With a view to picturesque effect Mrs. Barton’s thoughts had long been centred on a picnic.  They were now within a few days of the first of May, and there was enough sunshine in the air to justify an excursion to Kinvarra Castle.  It is about four miles distant, at the end of a long narrow bay.

Mrs. Barton applied herself diligently to the task of organization.  Having heard from Dublin of the hoax that was being played on their enemy, the Ladies Cullen consented to join the party, and they brought with them one of the Honourable Miss Gores.  The Duffys and Brennans numbered their full strength, including even the famous Bertha, who was staying with her sisters on a visit.  The Goulds excused themselves on account of the distance and the disturbed state of the country.  Mrs. Barton found, therefore, much difficulty in maintaining the noted characteristic of her parties.  Sir Richard and Sir Charles had agreed to come; Mr. Adair, Mr. Ryan, and Mr. Lynch were also present.  They drove up on outside cars, and were all attended by a bodyguard of policemen.

And very soon everybody fell to babbling of the history of the Castle, which nobody knew:  Ireland has had few chroniclers.  Lord Dungory pointed out that in the seventeenth century people lived in Ireland naked—­speaking Latin habitually—­without furniture or tapestries or paintings or baths.  The Castle suggested a military movement to Mr. Barton.

’If things get any worse, we might all retire into this castle.  The ladies will stand on the battlements, and I will undertake to hold the place for ever against those village ruffians.’

‘I do not think there will be any necessity for that,’ replied Mr. Adair sententiously.  ’I think that these last terrible outrages have awakened the Government to a sense of their responsibility.  I have reason to believe that immediate steps will be taken to crush this infamous conspiracy.’

Lord Dungory interposed with a neat epigram, and Mr. Adair fell to telling how he would crush the Land League out of existence if the Government would place him in supreme power for the space of one month.

’That is all I would ask:  one month to restore this island to peace and prosperity.  I have always been a Liberal, but I confess that I entirely fail to understand the action the Government are taking in the present crisis.’

As Lord Dungory was about to reply that he did not believe that the peasants could continue to resist the Government indefinitely, the police-sergeant in charge of the picnic-party approached, his face overcast.

’We’ve just received bad news from Dublin, my lord.  The worst.  Lord Frederick Cavendish and Mr. Burke were murdered this evening in the Phoenix Park.  It is unfortunately true, sir; I’ve the telegram with me.’  And he handed the yellow envelope to Lord Dungory, who, after glancing at it, handed it on to Mr. Adair.

The appearance of the police in conversation with Lord Dungory and Mr. Adair was a sign for the assembling of the rest of the company, and it was under the walls of old Kinvarra Castle that the picnic-party heard the awful news.