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."
COUNTRY FELLOW #1
Sure, he's the friend of the poor, and good luck to him.
COUNTRY FELLOW #2
Was it any business of ours?
RODERICK
(shouting)
Be off to your work, you pack of rascals, or you will have a good taste of my thong.
(to Mrs. O'Reilly)
Have you lost much?
MRS. O'REILLY
Everything -- my purse, containing upwards of a hundred guineas, my jewels, my snuff-boxes, watches. And all because this blundering coward fell to his knees...
FOOTMAN
Be fair, ma'am, them wasn't so much. Didn't he return you the thirteen pence in copper, and the watch, saying it was only pinchbeck?
MRS. O'REILLY
Don't be insolent, or I'll report you to the Captain.
FOOTMAN
Sorry, ma'am.
He shuffles a few steps away and frowns in the direction that the Captain has vanished.
MRS. O'REILLY
That fool didn't know what was the meaning of a hundred-pound bill, which was in the pocket-book that the fellow took from me.
RODERICK
I am riding to Dublin myself, and if your ladyship will allow me the honor of riding with you, I shall do my best to protect you from further mishap.
MRS. O'REILLY
But I shouldn't like to put you to such trouble, Mister... ?
RODERICK
O'Higgins... Mohawk O'Higgins.
They stop at the inn.
RODERICK
(very gallantly)
As you have been robbed of your purse, may I have permission to lend your ladyship a couple of pieces to pay any expenses which you might incur before reaching your home?
MRS. O'REILLY
(smiling)
That's very kind of you, Mr. O'Higgins.
He gives her two gold pieces.
Roderick and Mrs. O'Reilly finishing their meal. We will hear dialogue underneath Roderick's voice over.
RODERICK (V.O.)
How different was her lively rattle to the vulgar wenches at Kilwangan assemblies. In every sentence, she mentioned a lord or a person of quality. To the lady's question about my birth and parentage, I replied that I was a young gentleman of large fortune, that I was going to Dublin for my studies, and that my mother allowed me five hundred per annum.
MRS. O'REILLY
You must be very cautious with regard to the company you should meet in Dublin, where rogues and adventurers of all countries abound. I hope you will do me the honor of accepting lodgings in my own house, where Captain O'Reilly will welcome with delight, my gallant young preserver.
Paying the bill.
RODERICK (V.O.)
Perhaps had I been a little older in the world's experience, I should have begun to see that Madame O'Reilly was not the person of fashion she pretended to be; but, as it was, I took all her stories for truth, and, when the landlord brought the bill for dinner, paid it with the air of a lord. Indeed, she made no motion to produce the two pieces I had lent her.
They ride by.
RODERICK (V.O.)
And so we rode on slowly towards Dublin, into which city we made our entrance at nightfall. The rattle and splendor of the coaches, the flare of the linkboys, the number and magnificence of the houses, struck me with the greatest wonder; though I was careful to disguise this feeling.
RODERICK (V.O.)
We stopped at length at a house of rather mean appearance, and were let into a passage which had a great smell of supper and punch.
Captain O'Reilly, a stout red-faced man, without a periwig, and in a rather tattered nightgown and cap.
Roderick and Mrs. O'Reilly.
CAPTAIN O'REILLY
Mr. O'Higgins, I cannot say how grateful I am for your timely assistance to my wife.
RODERICK
I am only sorry that I was unable to prevent the villain from carrying off all her ladyship's money and pearls.
CAPTAIN O'REILLY
Mr. O'Higgins, we are in your debt, and rest assured, sir, you have friends in this house whenever you are in Dublin.
(pours a glass)
Mister O'Higgins, I wonder if I know your good father?
RODERICK
Which O'Higgins do you know? For I have never heard your name mentioned in my family.
CAPTAIN O'REILLY
Oh, I am thinking of the O'Higgins of Redmondstown. General O'Higgins was a close friend of my wife's dear father, Colonel Granby Somerset.
RODERICK
Ah -- I see. No, I'm afraid mine are the O'Higgins of Watertown.
CAPTAIN O'REILLY
I have heard of them.
There are relics of some mutton-chops and onions on a cracked dish before them.
CAPTAIN O'REILLY
My love, I wish I had known of your coming, for Bob Moriaty and I just finished the most delicious venison pasty, which His Grace the Lord Lieutenant, sent us, with a flash of sillery from his own cellar. You know the wine, my dear? But as bygones are bygones, and no help for them, what say ye to a fine lobster and a bottle of as good claret as any in Ireland? Betty, clear these things from the table, and make the mistress and our young friend welcome to our home.
Captain O'Reilly searches his pockets for some money to give to Betty.
CAPTAIN O'REILLY
I'm sorry, Mr. O'Higgins, but I don't seem to have any small change. May I borrow a ten-penny piece to give to the girl?
MRS. O'REILLY
I have some money, my dear. Here, Betty, go to the fishmonger and bring back our supper, and mind you get the right change.