Owen looked black as he heard this. The hounds
were going to draw a covert of his own; and he was
not in the habit of remaining away from the drawing
of any coverts belonging to himself or others, on
any provocation whatever. “That will be
rather hard,” said he, “considering that
I do not know any more than the man in the moon what
you’ve come about.”
“You shall be the sole judge yourself, sir,
of the importance of my business with you,”
said Mr. Prendergast.
“Well, Mr.—I forget your name,”
said Owen.
“My name’s Mollett,” said Aby.
Whereupon Mr. Prendergast looked up at him very sharply,
but he said nothing.—He said nothing, but
he looked very sharply indeed. He now knew well
who this man was, and guessed with tolerable accuracy
the cause of his visit. But, nevertheless, at
the moment he said nothing.
“Come along, then, Mr. Mollett. I hope
your affair is not likely to be a very long one also.
Perhaps you’ll excuse my having a cup of tea
sent in to me as you talk to me. There is nothing
like saving time when such very important business
is on the tapis. Donnellan, send Thady in with
a cup of tea, like a good fellow. Now, Mr. Mollett.”
Mr. Mollett rose slowly from his chair, and followed
his host. He would have given all he possessed
in the world, and that was very little, to have had
the coast clear. But in such an emergency, what
was he to do? By the time he had reached the door
of the drawing-room, he had all but made up his mind
to tell Fitzgerald that, seeing there was so much
other business on hand this morning at Hap House,
this special piece of business of his must stand over.
But then, how could he go back to Cork empty-handed?
So he followed Owen into the room, and there opened
his budget with what courage he had left to him.
Captain Donnellan, as he employed himself on the broiled
bones, twice invited Mr. Prendergast to assist him;
but in vain. Donnellan remained there, waiting
for Owen, till eleven; and then got on his horse.
“You’ll tell Fitzgerald, will you, that
I’ve started? He’ll see nothing of
to-day’s hunt; that’s clear.”
“I don’t think he will,” said Mr.
Prendergast.
AFTER BREAKFAST AT HAP HOUSE
“I don’t think he will,” said Mr.
Prendergast; and as he spoke, Captain Donnellan’s
ear could detect that there was something approaching
to sarcasm in the tone of the old man’s voice.
The Captain was quite sure that his friend would not
be even at the heel of the hunt that day; and without
further compunction proceeded to fasten his buckskin
gloves round his wrists. The meet was so near
to them, that they had both intended to ride their
own hunters from the door; and the two nags were now
being led up and down upon the gravel.
But at this moment a terrible noise was heard to take
place in the hall. There was a rush and crushing
there which made even Mr. Prendergast to jump from
his chair, and drove Captain Donnellan to forget his
gloves and run to the door.
