If
you will permit my groom, who is behind, to disencumber you of them
and carry them to Chapel, you will both confer an honor on me, and be
enabled yourselves to see the mort more pleasantly."
A twinkle of fun, in spite of all his efforts, played about good Sir
Richard's eye as he gave this searching hint. The two Welsh gentlemen
stammered out clumsy thanks; and pleading great haste and fatigue from
a long journey, contrived to fall to the rear and vanish with their
guides, as soon as the slot had been recovered.
"Will!" said Sir Richard, pushing alongside of young Cary.
"Your worship?"
"Jesuits, Will!"
"May the father of lies fly away with them over the nearest cliff!"
"He will not do that while this Irish trouble is about. Those fellows
are come to practise here for Saunders and Desmond."
"Perhaps they have a consecrated banner in their bag, the scoundrels!
Shall I and young Coffin on and stop them? Hard if the honest men may
not rob the thieves once in a way."
"No; give the devil rope, and he will hang himself. Keep thy tongue at
home, and thine eyes too, Will."
"How then?"
"Let Clovelly beach be watched night and day like any mousehole. No one
can land round Harty Point with these south-westers. Stop every fellow
who has the ghost of an Irish brogue, come he in or go he out, and send
him over to me.
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