130 The Course, the Camp, the Chase 



Mrs. Smythe, of Barbavilla, was shot when returning in 

 her carriage from church on Christmas Day. Her death 

 was not intended, the shot being aimed at her husband, 

 who was sitting by her side. The murder took place 

 in the middle of the day in their own park, and it had 

 been remarked that something must be going to happen, 

 for the country-people had not gone away at once on 

 coming out from the service, but were standing about 

 in groups, as if waiting for something to happen. They 

 were, in truth, waiting to hear the report of the gun, for 

 they were well aware that Mr. Smythe was to be shot 

 on the way home, — and yet no one would warn him ! 

 A rather curious circumstance was that a visitor had 

 intended to stay for the Holy Sacrament, and to drive 

 back in the carriage with his host and hostess. Had 

 he done so he would have been sitting in the front seat 

 of the brougham, and received the charge of the shot 

 instead of Mrs. Smythe. She had, however, herself 

 requested him to alter his mind, and to walk home 

 with her two young daughters, as she did not like them 

 to go home by themselves in those disturbed times. 



No one, at that period, ever ventured out of doors 

 in Westmeath without carrying loaded arms. Even when 

 hunting, or riding about, it was usual to have a loaded 

 pistol in one's pocket. No one ever thought of sitting 

 in a room at night with the shutters unclosed, or of 

 opening the front door with a light behind one. It was 

 the usual thing, when dining out, for all the revolvers 

 of the guests to be put into one room on arrival, when 

 the host would lock the door and keep the key in his 

 pocket until the time arrived for departure. Most 

 persons, too, kept a loaded revolver in some secret place^ 



