No questions will be asked--not if you are Ireland's friend." "I'll be there," said I; "and God save Ireland!" "Amen!" said he, and we parted.
It was, as I learned presently, the babbling of foolish talkers like this poor fellow that wrecked the Irish conspiracy.
As for me, I confess I felt misgivings.

I was a servant of his Majesty, and had no business with secret conspiracies.

Yet, when a life so precious to me was at stake, how could I help trying to do something to save it?
Besides (and this salved my conscience a little), had I not promised Tim, in the last hour I was with him, to strike a blow for my country?
For hours that morning I paced the streets of Dublin debating with myself, trying to reconcile dishonour with honour, and love with duty; determining one hour to fail in my appointment, in another to keep it and report all I heard to the government.
Finally, anxiety and curiosity got the better of me, and at the appointed hour I stood at the door of the printer's office in Marquis Street.
No one challenged me as I entered or passed through the outer shop, where a lad was at work folding pamphlets.

But at the inner door, leading to the press-room, a little shutter slid back and a face looked out.
"_Pikes and hemp_," said I.
"Name." "Barry." "Pass, friend." I found myself in a large apartment, in one corner of which stood the printing-press, and in another an iron table and a can of ink.
My friend of the morning, looking restless and haggard, was there, and greeted me, I thought, somewhat anxiously, as though he doubted the prudence of his invitation.

He did not, I am sure, feel more anxious than I, who every moment found the act in which I was engaged more intolerable.
At last, when about a hundred men, most of them of the class of my friend, had dropped in silently, and stood talking in knots, awaiting one further arrival, I could stand it no longer.
"I told you a lie this morning," said I in a low voice to my companion; "I am not sworn." He turned as white as a sheet.
"Then you are here to betray us ?" "No," said I.