"Can none of them speak French?" said Humbert, shortly.
"Yes, sir," said a young man on the collector's right; "I can make myself intelligible in that language, although no great proficient."
"Who are you, monsieur?—are you a civilian?" asked Humbert.
"Yes, sir. I am the son of the Bishop of Killala, and this young gentleman is my brother."
"What is the amount of the force in this neighborhood?"
"You will pardon me, sir," said the youth, "if I ask, first, who it is puts this question, and under what circumstances I am expected to answer it?"
"All frank and open, sir," said Humbert, good-humoredly. "I'm the General Humbert, commanding the advanced guard for the liberation of Ireland—so much for your first question. As to your second one, I believe that if you have any concern for yourself, or those belonging to you, you will find that nothing will serve your interest so much as truth and plain dealing."
"Fortunately, then, for me," said the youth, laughing, "I can not betray my king's cause, for I know nothing, nothing whatever, about the movement of troops. I seldom go ten miles from home, and have not been even at Ballina since last winter."
"Why so cautious about your information, then, sir," broke in Serazin, roughly, "since you have none to give?"
"Because I had some to receive, sir; and was curious to know where I was standing," said the young man, boldly.