( i65 ) 



CHAPTER X. 



At eight o'clock, having fed my dogs and 

 ferrets and left my boy Jack chatting in the 

 harness-room with the rector's old coach- 

 man, I found myself in a snug arm-chair, 

 pipe in mouth, my feet on the fender, and 

 the rector sitting opposite me in his study, 

 he also enjoying an after-dinner pipe ; and 

 after a chat over the events of the day and 

 of the storm of the previous night, the 

 rector began the history of the poor lame 

 boy at the cottage thus — 



" I dare say you remember that about 

 eight years ago the Irish question was giving 

 the authorities much trouble and anxiety 

 owing to the active turn it had then taken. 

 Hideous murders were of daily occurrence 



