‘The young fellow has begun well,’ said Mick, with a scowl.  ’You had better ride off, young sir, before the police are up.  They had wind of the business before we left Kilwangan.’

‘Is he quite dead?’ said I.

‘Quite dead,’ answered Mick.

‘Then the world’s rid of A coward,’ said Captain Fagan, giving the huge prostrate body a scornful kick with his foot.  ’It’s all over with him, Reddy,—­he doesn’t stir.’

‘We are not cowards, Fagan,’ said Ulick roughly, ’whatever he was!  Let’s get the boy off as quick as we may.  Your man shall go for a cart, and take away the body of this unhappy gentleman.  This has been a sad day’s work for our family, Redmond Barry:  you have robbed us of 1500(pounds) a year.’

‘It was Nora did it,’ said I; ‘not I.’  And I took the riband she gave me out of my waistcoat, and the letter, and flung them down on the body of Captain Quin.  ‘There!’ says I—­’take her those ribands.  She’ll know what they mean:  and that’s all that’s left to her of two lovers she had and ruined.’

I did not feel any horror or fear, young as I was, in seeing my enemy prostrate before me; for I knew that I had met and conquered him honourably in the field, as became a man of my name and blood.

‘And now, in Heaven’s name, get the youngster out of the way,’ said Mick.

Ulick said he would ride with me, and off accordingly we galloped, never drawing bridle till we came to my mother’s door.  When there, Ulick told Tim to feed my mare, as I would have far to ride that day; and I was in the poor mother’s arms in a minute.

I need not tell how great were her pride and exultation when she heard from Ulick’s lips the account of my behaviour at the duel.  He urged, however, that I should go into hiding for a short time; and it was agreed between them that I should drop my name of Barry, and, taking that of Redmond, go to Dublin, and there wait until matters were blown over.  This arrangement was not come to without some discussion; for why should I not be as safe at Barryville, she said, as my cousin and Ulick at Castle Brady?—­bailiffs and duns never got near them; why should constables be enabled to come upon me?  But Ulick persisted in the necessity of my instant departure; in which argument, as I was anxious to see the world, I must confess, I sided with him; and my mother was brought to see that in our small house at Barryville, in the midst of the village, and with the guard but of a couple of servants, escape would be impossible.  So the kind soul was forced to yield to my cousin’s entreaties, who promised her, however, that the affair would soon be arranged, and that I should be restored to her.  Ah! how little did he know what fortune was in store for me!