“Even so; you will have no objection, I trust, to let me know something of the nature of it--even now.”
“It is impossible!” replied the proctor, “quite out of my power; if I breathe a syllable about it, the whole matter must be blown before the proper time, and then--”
“Why, neither you nor I would be one moment safe; and in that case, it is much more prudent that you should not know it--God forbid that I, above all men, should be the person to involve you in risk and danger. Your own ardor and excessive loyalty expose you--to dangers enough, and too many.”
“You promise, however, when the proper time comes, to make me acquainted with it?”
“Certainly, when the proper time comes; and if the thing ripen at all, you shall hear of it.”
“But listen,” asked O'Driscol, licking his lips as a man would when thinking of a good dinner; “is the matter you allude to a real, actual, bona-fide conspiracy?”
“An actual live conspiracy,” replied the proctor; “and as soon as it has reached maturity, and is full grown, you shall have all the honors of the discovery.”
“That will do, Mat--hem, that will do my dear friend. I shall have the Castle dancing with delight--and whisper--but this is honorable between ourselves--any advantages that may result from this affair, you shall partake of. The Castle and I understand one another, and depend upon it, your name shall be mentioned with all the honor and importance due to it.”
“This, then, was what you wanted with me?”
“It was, and upon my honor and conscience, you and yours, and I and mine, will have cause to rejoice in it. Government, my dear Mat--ahem--is a generous benefactor, and aided by it we shall work wonders. We shall, I trust, all be provided for--your sons and my own fool--M'Carthy, too, we shall not forget.
“All that will be very pleasant, I acknowledge,” replied the proctor, dryly, “and in the meantime good-by, and may God spare both you and me long life and happiness--until then, and as long after it as we may wish for.”
Our friend M'Carthy, who was little aware of the liberal provision which the benevolence of his friend had in contemplation for him, was in the meantime likely to be provided for in a very different manner, and upon principles very much at variance with those of that political gentleman yclept the Castle, an impersonation which it would be exceedingly difficult to define.