“Faith is it, and the kay is gone.”
“Who has it?”
“The Capting, I guess.”
“What is the lady confined for?”
“Narry bit do I know.”
“Will you not let me speak to this lady through the keyhole?” asked Ernest.
“Och! what would ye be afther doin’? Do ye want me to be a traitor to my counthry?”
“No, no; I do not want you to be a traitor,” said Ernest in a low tone. “Are you a married man or not?”
“Faith no, but I expect to be, as soon as this whar is over, which I hope wont be a ghreat toime; an’ then I’ll be marrhid to one of the moust beautiful geerls in the whoul city.”
“Then listen to me, my friend. You are engaged to be married, and so am I. Now suppose your girl were confined in that room, and I should be standing guard in your place, and you should come up, and ask me to let you speak one little word to her through the keyhole, and I should refuse, what would you think of me?”