of a friend who has trusted and has been deceived, "then I am the informer," since they two had alone been in the secret of Lord Edward's intention of seeking shelter at Usher's Island when he had been waylaid and intercepted. At the time when Magan's visit was paid, though the incident from which she afterwards inferred his guilt had already taken place, her confidence in him was too complete to be at once dispelled. Even had her suspicions been aroused, caution on her part at this stage would have availed but little to avert the approaching catastrophe.

Murphy, on Lord Edward's arrival at his house the night before, had been struck by his altered appearance. It was little wonder. The life he had been leading, the constant strain both on body and mind, be a man's courage and spirit what it may, does not leave him as it finds him. He was also ill, and suffering from a cold. There was, however, no time to indulge in sickness, and the next morning he declared himself better. It was a Saturday-the Saturday after Ascension Day-and for the Wednesday or Thursday following the general rising was planned. Yet, notwithstanding the nearness of the crisis and the supreme necessity for prudence during the brief space of time which was to intervene, incident after incident betrayed the almost incredible heedlessness of the conspirators with regard to the commonest precautions.

As Murphy, anxious and nervous, stood before his door on the morning after Lord Edward's arrival, a parcel was silently placed in his hands. Being

opened, it was found to contain a military uniform, manifestly intended for the use of the commander-inchief of the projected insurrection-a compromising possession, both for host and guest, which was promptly concealed under a heap of goat-skins in a loft. The imprudence, too, of which Neilson was guilty was such as would have rendered it a miracle had attention not been attracted to Murphy's house, and it drew down upon him, probably quite unjustly, the suspicion of bad faith. The gigantic figure of the conspirator was constantly on view, now patrolling the street, now pausing at the door of Lord Edward's unfortunate host, to bestow upon him wholly superfluous injunctions as to the necessity for caution.

Lord Edward himself meanwhile, warned by the sight of a party of soldiers passing down the street and making a halt before Moore's house, had betaken himself to a place of concealment upon the roof, where he spent some hours of the afternoon. But as evening drew on, it was considered safe for the fugitive to leave his hiding-place, and he accordingly came down to dinner, sharing the meal with his host and Neilson.

It was scarcely over when the latter, for whose movements it is always difficult to account, suddenly quitted the house, leaving, it was said, the outer door Murphy, meanwhile went downstairs, while Lord Edward, still ill and tired, withdrew to the room he occupied, where he was presently found by his host, lying upon the bed, reading Gil Blas.

open.

The end was close at hand. It was when the two men were together that the sound of steps became audible upon the stairs; and the next moment Sirr's assistant, Major Swan, entered the room. Lord Edward had been tracked at last.

Of the scene which followed varying accounts have been given. The surprise party consisted of Sirr himself, Swan, and eight or nine private soldiers, together with a Captain Ryan, who seems to have accompanied the party in the character of a volunteer. Sirr had at first remained below, disposing of his men. in such a manner as to frustrate any attempt which might be made at escape; and Swan, though closely followed by Ryan, entered alone the room where Lord Edward was discovered.

At the first sight of the intruder Lord Edward sprang to his feet, and, receiving a shot from a pocket pistol which missed its aim, struck at his assailant with a dagger which had lain by him on the bed.

According to the account afterwards given by Ryan's son, Swan-whose wound was in truth very superficial and was well in a fortnight-thereupon cried out, "Ryan, Ryan, I am basely murdered," when Ryan, who appears to have been a man of courage, ran in to his assistance, armed only with a sword-cane ; received what proved to be, in his case, a mortal wound, and continued, in spite of it, to cling to Lord Edward till further help arrived.

Sirr, meanwhile, hearing from below the report of