Mrs. O’Halloran might have said more. She felt inclined to say a good deal more but she was interrupted by a loud knocking at the hall door.
“I dursent go to it.” said Molly. “I dursent. You wouldn’t know who might be there nor what they might do to you.”
“Nobody’s asking you to go,” said Mrs. O’Halloran.
She went to the door herself and opened it. A sergeant and eight men were on the steps.
“And what may you be wanting?” said Mrs. O’Halloran. “What right have you to come battering and banging at the door of her ladyship’s house the same as if it was a public-house and you trying to get in after closing time? Be off out of this, now, the whole of you. I never seen such foolishness.”
“My orders are to search the house,” said the sergeant; “rebels have been firing on us from the roof.”
“There’s no rebels been firing out of this house,” said Mrs. O’Halloran, “and what’s more——”
“My orders,” said the sergeant.
“There’s no orders given in this house,” said Mrs. O’Halloran, “only mine and maybe her ladyship’s at odd times.”
She need scarcely have mentioned Lady Devereux. An order from her was a very exceptional thing.