midnight
` I 'll make it a burglary and forcible entry , and if he recovers at all , I 'll stake my reputation I transport him for seven years . ' A hearty murmur of approval met the speech , and the procession , with the cart at their head , moved on towards the town . It was the Tory magistrate , Mr. Flood -- the same who had ransacked Walpole 's correspondence -- before whom the informations were sworn against Gorman O'Shea , and the old justice of the peace was , in secret , not sorry to see the question of land-tenure a source of dispute and quarrel amongst the very party who were always inveighing against the landlords . When Lord Kilgobbin arrived at Kilbeggan it was nigh midnight , and as young O'Shea was at that moment a patient in the gaol infirmary , and sound asleep , it was decided between Kearney and his son that they would leave him undisturbed till the following morning . Late as it was , Kearney was so desirous to know the exact narrative of events that he resolved on seeing Mr. Flood at once . Though Dick Kearney remonstrated with his father , and reminded him that old Tom Flood , as he was called , was a bitter Tory , had neither a civil word nor a kind thought for his adversaries in politics , Kearney was determined not to be turned from his purpose by any personal consideration , and being assured by the innkeeper that he was sure to find Mr. Flood in his dining-room and over his wine , he set out for the snug cottage at the entrance of the town , where the old justice of the peace resided . Just as he had been told , Mr. Flood was still in the dinner-room , and with his guest , Tony Adams , the rector , seated with an array of decanters between them .