The streets were thronged with foreign troops, who behaved as if in a conquered country, swaggering along the streets, pushing the citizens out into the middle of the road, abusing the tradesmen who refused to part with their goods at nominal prices, making insolent remarks to any woman who hurried past them, and behaving with a freedom and license which showed how completely all bonds of discipline were relaxed.

“They look mighty bould,” Larry whispered, “but it’s mighty little of it they show when they see the Irish horse advancing agin them.  No one would think, to see them now, as they were the men we saw spurring away for the bare life on Boyne Water.”

“No, indeed, Larry,” agreed Walter, who was furious at what he saw.  “I wish we had a few squadrons of Sarsfield’s horse here.  We would clear the street of these vermin in no time.  But you must be careful, Larry.  Whatever happens, we must not get into any brawl.  We have a mission to perform, and must not think of ourselves.”

“I will remember it, yer honour.”

It was well that Larry had been warned, for the next moment a German soldier passing brushed against him, and then, with a savage oath, turned and struck him to the ground.  Larry sprung up with his eyes blazing with passion, but he caught Walter’s warning “Larry,” and, hanging his head, moved away without a word.

“That’s right, Larry,” Walter said approvingly.  “I was afraid for a moment that you were going to spring at that fellow.  If you had you would have been in a lockup in five minutes, and as you could have given no good account of yourself, there you might have remained for weeks.”

“If ever I meet that fellow outside Dublin,” Larry muttered savagely, “I will pay him for the blow he gave me.”

Seeing the risk of another encounter of the same kind, Walter led the way down to the bank of the river, and there they remained, chatting, until it became dusk.

“Now, Larry, I must begin my work.  My first visit is to be to a merchant, who lives in a street close to where the ships discharge.  While I am in, do you sit down on a doorstep near, and keep a sharp lookout to see whether the house is watched.  It is not likely, but all the better class of Catholics who remain in the town are regarded with suspicion.”

Walter had no trouble in finding the house he was in search of, and, knocking at the door, he told the servant who opened it that he wanted to see the master.

“You must come in business hours,” the man said.  “He can’t see you now.”

“I have a letter to him, from his friend Mr. Fitzgerald of Waterford.  If you tell him that, I think he will see me now.”

“That’s all right,” the man said.  “He tould me if anyone came with a letter from that gentleman, I was to show him up.”

So saying, he led him upstairs.

“Here’s a young man, your honour, with the letter you tould me about, from Mr. Fitzgerald.”