CAPTAIN GROGAN

Roderick, fire at his neck -- hit him there under the gorget; see how the fool shows himself open.

Michael, who has not spoken a word, Harry, and the Captain retire to one side, and Harry gives the signal.

It is slowly given, and Roderick has the leisure to cover his man well.

Captain Best changes color and trembles as the numbers are given.

At "three" both pistols go off. Best gives a most horrible groan, staggers backwards and falls.

THE SECONDS

(crying out)

He's down! He's down!

Running towards him, Harry lifts him up Michael takes his head.

MICHAEL

He's hit here, in the neck.

Laying open his coat, blood is seen gurgling from under his gorget.

HARRY

How is it with you?

The unfortunate man does not answer, but when the support of Harry's arm is withdrawn from his back, groans once more and falls backwards.

MICHAEL

(with a scowl)

The young fellow has begun well. You had better ride off, young sir, before the police are up. They had wind of the business before we left Kilwangan.

RODERICK

Is he quite dead?

MICHAEL

Quite dead.

CAPTAIN GROGAN

Then the world's rid of a coward. It's all over with him, Roddy -- he doesn't stir.

He gives the huge prostrate body a scornful kick with his foot.

HARRY

We are not cowards, Grogan, whatever he was! Let's get the boy off as quick as we may. Your man shall go for a cart, and take away the body of this unhappy gentleman. This has been a sad day's work for our family, Roderick James, and you have robbed us of fifteen-hundred a-year.

RODERICK

It was Dorothy did it.

Roderick takes the ribbons she gave him out of his waistcoat, and the letter, and flings them down on the body of Captain Best.

RODERICK

There! Take her those ribbons. She'll know what they mean; that's all that's left of her of two lovers she had and ruined.

MICHAEL

And now, in Heaven's name, get the youngster out of the way.

HARRY

I'll go with you. They mount up and gallop off.

Upon seeing Roderick and Harry ride up, his mother, who has been waiting outside, rushes to her son with wild screams of joy. He dismounts, and she kisses and embraces him.

RODERICK (V.O.)

I need not tell you how great was my mother's pride and exultation when she heard from Harry's lips the account of my behavior at the duel.

Still much excitement and hustle and bustle.

HARRY

The boy must go into hiding, for a short time anyway. Dublin is the best place for him to go, and there wait until matters are blown over.

MOTHER

Dublin? But the poor lad has never been away from home. He will be as safe here as in Dublin.

HARRY

I wish that were true, Auntie dear, but I'm afraid the bailiffs may already be on their way from Kilwangan.

His mother is rushing about and packing a valise. Harry sits on the bed.

RODERICK (V.O.)

Harry persisted in the necessity of instant departure, in which argument, as I was anxious to see the world, I must confess, I sided with him; and my mother was brought to see that, in our small house, in the midst of a village, escape would be impossible, and capture would be impossible to avoid.

His mother takes out a stocking from her escritoire, and gives Roderick twenty golden guineas.

MOTHER

(gravely)

Roderick, my darling, my wild boy, I have forebodings that our separation is to be a long one. I spent most of all night consulting the cards regarding your fate in the duel, and all signs betoke a separation. Here is twenty guineas -- all that I have in the world and I want you to keep your father's sword and pistols, which you have known to use so like a man.

Roderick's departure.

RODERICK (V.O.)

She hurried my departure now, though her heart, I know, was full, and almost in half-an-hour from my arrival at home, I was once more on the road again, with the wide world, as it were, before me.

Roderick waves. His mother cries.

RODERICK (V.O.)

No lad of seventeen is very sad who has liberty for the first time, and twenty guineas in his pocket; and I rode away, thinking, I confess, not so much of the kind of mother left alone, and of the home behind me, as of tomorrow, and all the wonders it would bring.

Roderick happily riding down the road.

RODERICK (V.O.)

I had no doubts of the future; thinking that a man of my person, parts, and courage, could make his way anywhere. So I rode on, singing to myself, or chatting with the passersby; and all the girls along the road said, "God save me, for a clever gentleman."

Farm girls in the fields flirting with him.

RODERICK (V.O.)

As for thoughts of Dorothy Dugan, there seemed to be a gap of a half-a-score of years.

A well-armed gentleman dressed in green, and a gold cord, with a patch on his eye, and riding a powerful mare, puts his horse alongside.

ARMED GENTLEMAN

Good day to you, young sir.

RODERICK

Good morning.

ARMED GENTLEMAN

Where are you bound for?

RODERICK

(after a long look at his companion)

That is none of your business.

ARMED GENTLEMAN

Is your mother not afraid on account of the highwayman to let one so young as you travel?

RODERICK

(pulling out a pistol)

Not at all, sir. I have a pair of good pistols that have already done execution, and are ready to do it again.

At this, a pock-marked man coming up, the well-armed gentleman spurs into his bay mare, and leaves Roderick.

RODERICK (V.O.)

A little later on, as I rode towards Kilcullen, I saw a crowd of peasant people assembled round a one-horse chair, and my friend in green, as I thought, making off half-a-mile up the hill.

A footman howls, at the top of his voice.

FOOTMAN

Stop thief!

But the country fellows only laugh at his distress, and make all sorts of jokes at the adventure which had just befallen.

COUNTRY FELLOW #1

Sure, you might have kept him off with your blunderbush!

COUNTRY FELLOW #2

O the coward! To let the Captain bate you, and he only one eye!

COUNTRY FELLOW #3

The next time my lady travels, she'd better leave you at home!

RODERICK

What is this noise, fellows?

Roderick rides up amongst them, and seeing the lady in the carriage, very pale and frightened, gives a slash of his whip, and bids the red-shanked ruffians keep off.

Pulling off his hat, and bringing his mare up in a prance to the chair-window.

RODERICK

What has happened, madam, to annoy your ladyship?

MRS. O'REILLY

Oh, I am grateful to you, sir. I am the wife of Captain O'Reilly hastening to join him at Dublin. My chair was stopped by a highwayman; this great oaf of a servant-man fell down on his knees, armed as he was, and though there were thirty people in the next field, working, when the ruffian attacked, not one of them would help but, on the contrary, wished him "good luck."