Mr. Bullen's lips were a little parted, but his face was immovable.
"Go on."
"In the event of your doing so," Norgate continued, "more money, and arms themselves if you require them, will be available, but the motto of those who have the cause of Ireland entirely at heart is, 'No compromise!' They recognise the fact that you are in a difficult position. They fear that you have allowed yourself to be influenced, to be weakened by pressure so easily brought upon you from high quarters."
"I understand," Mr. Bullen remarked. "Go on."
"There is a further condition," Norgate proceeded, "though that is less important. The position in Europe at the present moment seems to indicate a lasting peace, yet if anything should happen that that peace should be broken, you are asked to pledge your word that none of your Nationalist volunteers should take up arms on behalf of England until that bill has become law and is in operation. Further, if that unlikely event, a war, should take place, that you have the courage to keep your men solid and armed, and that if the Ulster volunteers, unlike your men, decide to fight for England, as they very well might do, that you then proceed to take by force what it is not the intention of England to grant you by any other means."
Mr. Bullen leaned back in his chair. He picked up a penholder and played with it for several moments.
"Young man," he asked at last, "who is Mr. X——?"
"That, in the present stage of our negotiations," Norgate answered coolly, "I am not permitted to tell you."
"May I guess as to his nationality?" Mr. Bullen enquired.
"I cannot prevent your doing that."