"True enough," said the squire, "just in the nick of time; by that
glorious young fellow--a--a--yes--Reilly--Willy Reilly."

"This Willy Reilly, sir, is a very accomplished person, I think."

"A gentleman, Sir Robert, every inch of him, and as handsome and
fine-looking a young fellow as ever I laid my eyes upon."

"He was educated on the Continent by the Jesuits."

"No!" replied the squire, dreadfully alarmed at this piece of
information, "he was not; by the great Boyne, he wasn't."

This mighty asseveration, however, was exceedingly feeble in moral
strength and energy, for, in point of fact, it came out of the squire's
lips more in the shape of a question than an oath.

"It is unquestionably true, sir," said the baronet; "ask himself, and he
will admit it."

"Well, and granting that he was," replied the squire, "what else could
he do, when the laws would not permit of his being educated here? I
speak not against the laws, God forbid, but of his individual case."

"We are travelling from the point, sir," returned the baronet. "I was
observing that Reilly is an accomplished person, as indeed every Jesuit
is. Be that as it may, I again beg to assure you that your life stood in
no risk."