Iimmediatelyheardhisvoiceinanimatedconversation。Mycuriosityuponthesubjectoftheletterwasnaturallygreat，so，smotheringanylittlescrupleswhichI
mighthavefelt，Iresolvedtolookattheaddressoftheletterwhichlay，asmyhusbandhadleftit，withitsfaceuponthetable。Iaccordinglydrewitovertomeandturnedupthedirection。
FortwoorthreemomentsIcouldscarcebelievemyeyes，buttherecouldbenomistake——inlargecharactersweretracedthewords，’TotheArchangelGabrielinHeaven。’
Ihadscarcelyreturnedthelettertoitsoriginalposition，andinsomedegreerecoveredtheshockwhichthisunequivocalproofofinsanityproduced，whentheclosetdoorwasunlocked，andLordGlenfallenre-enteredthestudy，carefullyclosingandlockingthedooragainupontheoutside。
’Whomhaveyouthere？’inquiredI，makingastrongefforttoappearcalm。
’Perhaps，’saidhe，musingly，’youmighthavesomeobjectiontoseeingher，atleastforatime。’
’Whoisit？’repeatedI。
’Why，’saidhe，’Iseenouseinhidingit——theblindDutchwoman。Ihavebeenwithherthewholemorning。Sheisveryanxioustogetoutofthatcloset；butyouknowsheisodd，sheisscarcelytobetrusted。’
Aheavygustofwindshookthedooratthismomentwithasoundasifsomethingmoresubstantialwerepushingagainstit。
’Ha，ha，ha!——doyouhearher？’
saidhe，withanobstreperousburstoflaughter。
Thewinddiedawayinalonghowl，andLordGlenfallen，suddenlycheckinghismerriment，shruggedhisshoulders，andmuttered：
’Poordevil，shehasbeenhardlyused。’
’Wehadbetternotteaseheratpresentwithquestions，’saidI，inasunconcernedatoneasIcouldassume，althoughIfelteverymomentasifIshouldfaint。
’Humph!maybeso，’saidhe。’Well，comebackinanhourortwo，orwhenyouplease，andyouwillfindushere。’
Heagainunlockedthedoor，andenteredwiththesameprecautionswhichhehadadoptedbefore，lockingthedoorupontheinside；andasIhurriedfromtheroom，I
heardhisvoiceagainexertedasifineagerparley。
Icanhardlydescribemyemotions；myhopeshadbeenraisedtothehighest，andnow，inaninstant，allwasgone——thedreadfulconsummationwasaccomplished——
thefearfulretributionhadfallenupontheguiltyman——themindwasdestroyed——thepowertorepentwasgone。
TheagonyofthehourswhichfollowedwhatIwouldstillcallmyAWFUL
interviewwithLordGlenfallen，Icannotdescribe；mysolitudewas，however，brokeninuponbyMartha，whocametoinformmeofthearrivalofagentleman，whoexpectedmeintheparlour。
Iaccordinglydescended，and，tomygreatjoy，foundmyfatherseatedbythefire。
Thisexpeditionuponhispartwaseasilyaccountedfor：mycommunicationshadtouchedthehonourofthefamily。I
speedilyinformedhimofthedreadfulmaladywhichhadfallenuponthewretchedman。
Myfathersuggestedthenecessityofplacingsomepersontowatchhim，topreventhisinjuringhimselforothers。
Irangthebell，anddesiredthatoneEdwardCooke，anattachedservantofthefamily，shouldbesenttome。
Itoldhimdistinctlyandbrieflythenatureoftheservicerequiredofhim，and，attendedbyhim，myfatherandI
proceededatoncetothestudy。Thedooroftheinnerroomwasstillclosed，andeverythingintheouterchamberremainedinthesameorderinwhichIhadleftit。
Wethenadvancedtothecloset-door，atwhichweknocked，butwithoutreceivinganyanswer。
Wenexttriedtoopenthedoor，butinvain——itwaslockedupontheinside。
Weknockedmoreloudly，butinvain。
Seriouslyalarmed，Idesiredtheservanttoforcethedoor，whichwas，afterseveralviolentefforts，accomplished，andweenteredthecloset。
LordGlenfallenwaslyingonhisfaceuponasofa。
’Hush!’saidI，’heisasleep。’Wepausedforamoment。
’Heistoostillforthat，’saidmyfather。
Weallofusfeltastrongreluctancetoapproachthefigure。
’Edward，’saidI，’trywhetheryourmastersleeps。’
TheservantapproachedthesofawhereLordGlenfallenlay。Heleanthiseartowardstheheadoftherecumbentfigure，toascertainwhetherthesoundofbreathingwasaudible。Heturnedtowardsus，andsaid：
’Mylady，youhadbetternotwaithere；
Iamsureheisdead!’
’Letmeseetheface，’saidI，terriblyagitated；’youMAYbemistaken。’
Themanthen，inobediencetomycommand，turnedthebodyround，and，graciousGod!whatasightmetmyview。Hewas，indeed，perfectlydead。
Thewholebreastoftheshirt，withitslacefrill，wasdrenchedwithgore，aswasthecouchunderneaththespotwherehelay。
Theheadhungback，asitseemed，almostseveredfromthebodybyafrightfulgash，whichyawnedacrossthethroat。Theinstrumentwhichhadinflicteditwasfoundunderhisbody。
All，then，wasover；IwasnevertolearnthehistoryinwhoseterminationIhadbeensodeeplyandsotragicallyinvolved。
Theseveredisciplinewhichmymindhadundergonewasnotbestowedinvain。I
directedmythoughtsandmyhopestothatplacewherethereisnomoresin，nordanger，norsorrow。
Thusendsabrieftalewhoseprominentincidentsmanywillrecogniseashavingmarkedthehistoryofadistinguishedfamily；andthoughitreferstoasomewhatdistantdate，weshallbefoundnottohavetaken，uponthataccount，anylibertieswiththefacts，butinourstatementofalltheincidentstohaverigorouslyandfaithfullyadheredtothetruth。
ANADVENTUREOFHARDRESSFITZGERALD，AROYALISTCAPTAIN。
BeinganEleventhExtractfromtheLegacyofthelateFrancisPurcell，P。P。ofDrumcoolagh。
ThefollowingbriefnarrativecontainsafaithfulaccountofoneofthemanystrangeincidentswhichchequeredthelifeofHardressFitzgerald——oneofthenow-forgottenheroeswhoflourishedduringthemoststirringand，thoughthemostdisastrous，bynomeanstheleastgloriousperiodofoureventfulhistory。
HewasacaptainofhorseinthearmyofJames，andsharedthefortunesofhismaster，enduringprivations，encounteringdangers，andsubmittingtovicissitudesthemostgallingandruinous，withafortitudeandaheroismwhichwould，ifcoupledwithhisothervirtueshaverenderedtheunhappymonarchwhomheserved，themostillustriousamongunfortunateprinces。
Ihavealwayspreferred，whereIcoulddosowithanyapproachtoaccuracy，togivesuchrelationsastheonewhichIamabouttosubmittoyou，inthefirstperson，andinthewordsoftheoriginalnarrator，believingthatsuchaformofrecitationnotonlygivesfreshnesstothetale，butinthisparticularinstance，bybringingbeforemeandsteadilyfixinginmymind’seyetheveteranroyalistwhohimselfrelatedtheoccurrencewhichIamabouttorecord，furnishesanadditionalstimulanttomymemory，andaproportionatecheckuponmyimagination。
AsnearlyasIcanrecollectthen，hisstatementwasasfollows：
AfterthefatalbattleoftheBoyne，I
cameupindisguisetoDublin，asdidmanyinalikesituation，regardingthecapitalasfurnishingatonceagoodcentralpositionofobservation，andassecurealurking-placeasIcaredtofind。
Iwouldnotsuffermyselftobelievethatthecauseofmyroyalmasterwassodesperateasitreallywas；andwhileI
layinmylodgings，whichconsistedofthegarretofasmalldarkhouse，standinginthelanewhichrunsclosebyAudoen’sArch，Ibusiedmyselfwithcontinualprojectsfortheraisingofthecountry，andthere-collectingofthefragmentsofthedefeatedarmy——plans，youwillallow，sufficientlymagnificentforapoordevilwhodaredscarceshowhisfaceabroadinthedaylight。
Ibelieve，however，thatIhadnotmuchreasontofearformypersonalsafety，formen’smindsinthecityweregreatlyoccupiedwithpublicevents，andprivateamusementsanddebaucheries，whichwere，aboutthattime，carriedtoanexcesswhichourcountryneverknewbefore，byreasonoftherakingtogetherfromallquartersoftheempire，andindeedfrommostpartsofHolland，themostdissoluteanddes-
perateadventurerswhocaredtoplayathazardfortheirlives；andthusthereseemedtobebutlittlescrutinyintothecharactersofthosewhosoughtconcealment。
IheardmuchatdifferenttimesoftheintentionsofKingJamesandhisparty，butnothingwithcertainty。
SomesaidthatthekingstilllayinIreland；others，thathehadcrossedovertoScotland，toencouragetheHighlanders，who，withDundeeattheirhead，hadbeenstirringinhisbehoof；others，again，saidthathehadtakenshipforFrance，leavinghisfollowerstoshiftforthemselves，andregardinghiskingdomaswhollylost，whichlastwasthetrueversion，asIafterwardslearned。
AlthoughIhadbeenveryactiveinthewarsinIreland，andhaddonemanydeedsofnecessarybutdireseverity，whichhaveoftensincetroubledmemuchtothinkupon，yetIdoubtednotbutthatImighteasilyobtainprotectionformypersonandpropertyfromthePrinceofOrange，ifI
soughtitbytheordinarysubmissions；
butbesidesthatmyconscienceandmyaffectionsresistedsuchtime-servingconcessions，Iwasresolvedinmyownmindthatthecauseoftheroyalistpartywasbynomeansdesperate，andIlookedtokeepmyselfunimpededbyanypledgeorpromisegiventotheusurpingDutchman，thatImightfreelyandhonourablytakeashareinanystrugglewhichmightyetremaintobemadefortheright。
Ithereforelayquiet，goingforthfrommylodgingsbutlittle，andthatchieflyundercoverofthedusk，andconversinghardlyatall，exceptwiththosewhomI
wellknew。
Ihadlikeoncetohavepaiddearlyforrelaxingthiscaution；forgoingintoatavernoneeveningneartheTholsel，I
hadtheconfidencetothrowoffmyhat，andsittherewithmyfacequiteexposed，whenafellowcominginwithsometroopers，theyfella-boozing，andbeingsomewhatwarmed，theybegantodrink’Confusiontopopery，’andthelike，andtocompelthepeaceablepersonswhohappenedtositthere，tojointheminsodoing。
ThoughIwasratherhot-blooded，I
wasresolvedtosaynothingtoattractnotice；but，atthesametime，ifurgedtopledgethetoastswhichtheywerecompellingotherstodrink，toresistdoingso。
Withtheintenttowithdrawmyselfquietlyfromtheplace，Ipaidmyreckoning，andputtingonmyhat，wasgoingintothestreet，whenthecountrymanwhohadcomeinwiththesoldierscalledout：
’Stopthatpopishtom-cat!’
Andrunningacrosstheroom，hegottothedoorbeforeme，and，shuttingit，placedhisbackagainstit，topreventmygoingout。
Thoughwithmuchdifficulty，Ikeptanappearanceofquietness，andturningtothefellow，who，fromhisaccent，Ijudgedtobenorthern，andwhosefaceIknew——
though，tothisday，IcannotsaywhereIhadseenhimbefore——Iobservedverycalmly：
’Sir，Icameinherewithnootherdesignthantorefreshmyself，withoutoffendinganyman。Ihavepaidmyreckoning，andnowdesiretogoforth。IfthereisanythingwithinreasonthatIcandotosatisfyyou，andtopreventtroubleanddelaytomyself，nameyourterms，andiftheybebutfair，Iwillfranklycomplywiththem。’
Hequicklyreplied：
’YouareHardressFitzgerald，thebloodypopishcaptain，thathangedthetwelvemenatDerry。’
IfeltthatIwasinsomedanger，butbeingastrongman，andusedtoperilsofallkinds，itwasnoteasytodisconcertme。
Ilookedthensteadilyatthefellow，and，inavoiceofmuchconfidence，I
said：
’IamneitheraPapist，aRoyalist，noraFitzgerald，butanhonesterProtestant，mayhap，thanmanywhomakelouderprofessions。’
’Thendrinkthehonestman’stoast，’
saidhe。’Damnationtothepope，andconfusiontoskulkingJimmyandhisrunawaycrew。’
’Yourselfshallhearme，’saidI，takingthelargestpewterpotthatlaywithinmyreach。’Tapster，fillthiswithale；IgrievetosayIcanaffordnothingbetter。’
Itookthevesselofliquorinmyhand，andwalkinguptohim，Ifirstmadeabowtothetrooperswhosatlaughingatthesprightlinessoftheirfacetiousfriend，andthenanothertohimself，whensaying，’G——damnyourselfandyourcause!’Iflungthealestraightintohisface；andbeforehehadtimetorecoverhimself，Istruckhimwithmywholeforceandweightwiththepewterpotuponthehead，sostrongablow，thathefell，foraughtIknow，deaduponthefloor，andnothingbutthehandleofthevesselremainedinmyhand。
Iopenedthedoor，butoneofthedragoonsdrewhissabre，andranatmetoavengehiscompanion。WithmyhandIputasidethebladeofthesword，narrowlyescapingwhathehadintendedforme，thepointactuallytearingopenmyvest。
Withoutallowinghimtimetorepeathisthrust，Istruckhiminthefacewithmyclenchedfistsosoundablowthatherolledbackintotheroomwiththeforceofatennisball。
Itwaswellformethattherestwerehalfdrunk，andtheeveningdark；forotherwisemyfollywouldinfalliblyhavecostmemylife。Asitwas，Ireachedmygarretinsafety，witharesolutiontofrequenttavernsnomoreuntilbettertimes。
Mylittlepatienceandmoneywerewell-
nighexhausted，when，aftermuchdoubtanduncertainty，andmanyconflictingreports，IwasassuredthatthefloweroftheRoyalistarmy，undertheDukeofBerwickandGeneralBoisleau，occupiedthecityofLimerick，withadeterminationtoholdthatfortressagainsttheprince’sforces；andthataFrenchfleetofgreatpower，andwellfreightedwitharms，ammunition，andmen，wasridingintheShannon，underthewallsofthetown。
Butthislastreportwas，likemanyothersthencirculated，untrue；therebeing，indeed，apromiseandexpectationofsuchassistance，butnoarrivalofittilltoolate。