He disclosed, however, the whole plot, with the single exception of the night appointed for the robbery, which, in point of date, he placed in his narrative exactly a week after the real time.

“Now,” he said to himself, “so far I’m on the safe side; still, if he has humbugged me, I’ve paid him in his own coin.  Maybe the whole haul, as he calls it, may be secured before they begin to prepare for it.”

Hanlon, however, had other designs.  After musing a little, they sauntered along the garden walks, during which he proposed a plan of their own for the robbery of Henderson; and so admirably was it concocted, and so tempting to the villainous cupidity of Duncan, that he expressed himself delighted from the commencement of its fancied execution until their ultimate settlement in America.

“It was a treacherous thing, I grant, to betray you, Rody,” said Hanlon; “an’ if I was in your place, I’d give him tit for tat.  An’, by the way, talkin’ of the Prophet—­not that I say it was he betrayed you—­for indeed now it wasn’t—­bad cess to me if it was—­I think you wanst said you knew more about him than I thought.”

“Ah, ha,” again thought Rody, “I think I see what you’re afther at last; but no matther, I’ll keep my eye on you.  Hut, ay did I,” he replied; “but I forget now what’s this it was.  However, I’ll try if I can remember it; if I do, I’ll tell you.”

“You an’ he will hang that murdherin’ villain, Dalton—­”

“I’m afeard o’ that,” replied the other; “an’ for my part, I’d as soon be out of the thing altogether; however, it can’t be helped now.’”

“Isn’t it sthrange, Rody, how murdher comes out at last?” observed Hanlon; “now there’s that ould man, an’ see, after twenty years or more, how it comes against him.  However, it’s not a very pleasant subject, so let it dhrop.  Here’s Masther Richard comin’ through the private gate,” he added; “but if you slip down to my aunt’s to-night, we’ll have a glass of something that’ll do us no harm at any rate, and we can talk more about the other business.”

“Very well,” replied Rody, “I’ll be down, so goodbye; an’ whisper, Charley,” he added, putting on a broad grin; “don’t be too sure that I tould you a single word o’ thruth about the rob—­hem—­ha, ha! take care of yourself—­good people is scarce you know—­ha, ha, ha!”

He then left Hanlon in a state of considerable doubt as to the discovery he had made touching the apprehended burglary; and his uncertainty was the greater, inasmuch as he had frequently heard the highest possible encomiums lavished upon Duncan’s extraordinary powers of invention and humbug.

Young Henderson, on hearing these circumstances, did not seriously question their truth; neither did they in the slightest degree shake his confidence in the intentions of the Prophet with respect to Mave Sullivan.  Indeed, he argued very reasonably and correctly, that the man who was capable of the one act, would have little hesitation to commit the other.  This train of reflection, however, he kept to himself, for it is necessary to state here, that Hanlon was not at all in the secret of the plot against Mave.  Henderson had, on an earlier occasion sounded him upon it, but perceived at once that his scruples could not be overcome, and that of course it would be dangerous to repose confidence in him.