‘That terrible Cousin Dick! nothing escapes him,’ said Nina, with a faint smile.
‘Is there any more in the newspapers about that scandal of the Government?’ cried the old man, turning to Kate.
‘Is there not going to be some inquiry as to whether his Excellency wrote to the Fenians?’
‘There are a few words here, papa,’ cried Kate, opening the paper. ‘“In reply to the question of Sir Barnes Malone as to the late communications alleged to have passed between the head of the Irish Government and the head-centre of the Fenians, the Right Honourable the First Lord of the Treasury said, ‘That the question would be more properly addressed to the noble lord the Secretary for Ireland, who was not then in the House. Meanwhile, sir,’ continued he, ‘I will take on myself the responsibility of saying that in this, as in a variety of other cases, the zeal of party has greatly outstripped the discretion that should govern political warfare. The exceptional state of a nation, in which the administration of justice mainly depends on those aids which a rigid morality might disparage—the social state of a people whose integrity calls for the application of means the most certain to disseminate distrust and disunion, are facts which constitute reasons for political action that, however assailable in the mere abstract, the mind of statesmanlike form will at once accept as solid and effective, and to reject which would only show that, in over-looking the consequences of sentiment, a man can ignore the most vital interests of his country.’”’
‘Does he say that they wrote to Donogan?’ cried Kilgobbin, whose patience had been sorely pushed by the Premier’s exordium.
‘Let me read on, papa.’
‘Skip all that, and get down to a simple question and answer, Kitty; don’t read the long sentences.’
‘This is how he winds up, papa. “I trust I have now, sir, satisfied the House that there are abundant reasons why this correspondence should not be produced on the table, while I have further justified my noble friend for a course of action in which the humanity of the man takes no lustre from the glory of the statesman”—then there are some words in Latin—“and the right hon. gentleman resumed his seat amidst loud cheers, in which some of the Opposition were heard to join.”’
‘I want to be told, after all, did they write the letter to say Donogan was to be let escape?’
‘Would it have been a great crime, uncle?’ said Nina artlessly.