Darby looked into the floor like a philosopher solving a problem.  “I see, sir,” said he, “I see—­well—­you have made that clear enough sartinly; but you know, sir, how could you expect such deep raisoning upon these subjects from a man like me.  I see the duty of it now clearly; but, when, sir, on the other hand if I prosecute him, what’s to become of me?  Will you, sir, bear my funeral expenses?”

“Every penny, O’Drive,” replied the other, eagerly.  “Tut,” he exclaimed, checking himself, “I—­I—­I thought you meant the expenses of the prosecution.”

“It’s much the same, sir,” replied Darby, “the one will be sure to follow the other.  You know the state the country’s in now, sir, and how the people on both sides are ready to skiver one another about this religion, and rents and tithes, and dear knows what besides.  As it is, sir,” he proceeded, “you see that I dursn’t walk the road without these,” and he produced the pistols as he spoke, “but what chance, sir, would I have if I prosecuted a priest?  Why, my life wouldn’t be worth two hours’ purchase.”

Mr. Lucre himself could not help feeling and admitting the truth of this, but as he could devise no plan to obviate the dangers alluded to, he still scrupled not to urge the prosecution.

“Sir,” said Darby starting, as if a gleam of light had shot across his brain, “a thought has just struck me, and I hope it was something from above that sent it.  If there was any kind of situation, sir, that I could fill, and that would keep me in a place of safety where the hathens couldn’t get at me, everything would be right; and be the same token, sir, now that I think of it, isn’t the under gaoler-ship of Castle Cumber vacant this minute.”

Lucre who, in fact, had set his heart on prosecuting and punishing the priest, would have gladly made Darby governor of the best gaol in his majesty’s dominions, rather than lose this opportunity of effecting his purpose.

“Rest contented, O’Drive,” he replied, “you shall have it—­I pledge myself that you shall have it.  My influence is sufficient for much more than so paltry a trifle as that.  And now for the informations.”

“Ah, sir,” replied the other, “that wouldn’t mend the matter a bit.  Let it go once abroad that I swore them, and I’d never see to-morrow night.  No, sir, if you wish him properly prosecuted,—­and I think I ought to know how to do it, too;—­but if you wish him properly punished, place me first out of harm’s way—­out o’ the reach o’ the hathens; put me into the situation before we take a single step in the business, then I’ll be safe and can work in it to some purpose.”

“It shall be done,” said Lucre, “and I will go about it presently, but in the mean time the matter rests as it is.  If what you say is true, and I believe it is, your own safety depends upon your silence.”

“Not a breath,” replied Darby; “and now, sir, about what brought me here—­I wanted to say that I’d wish ‘to read’ upon Sunday next.”