“The very man. You may have met him here as Darcy's guest?”
O'Reilly nodded.
“What makes the affair worse is that the relationship with Castlereagh will be taken up as a party matter by O'Halloran's friends in the press; they will see a Castle plot, where, in reality, there is nothing to blame save the rash folly of a hot-headed boy.”
“What is to be done?” said O'Reilly, putting his hand to his forehead, in his embarrassment to think of some escape from the difficulty.
“I see but one safe issue,—always enough to any question, if men have resolution to adopt it.”
“Let me hear what you counsel,” said O'Reilly, as he cast a searching glance at his astute companion.
“Get him off as fast as you can.”
“O'Halloran! You mistake him, Mr. Heffernan; he'll prosecute the business to the end.”
“I'm speaking of Forester,” said Heffernan, dryly; “it is his absence is the important matter at this moment.”
“I confess I am myself unable to appreciate your view of the case,” said O'Reilly, with a cunning smile; “the policy is a new one to me which teaches that a magistrate should favor the escape of a prisoner who has just insulted one of his own friends.”