Passage Illustrated: Mary Martin's Defiance of Tom Magennis's Mob at Cro' Martin

“But the person is really not here?” broke in Merl.

“I have said so, sir,” rejoined she, haughtily.

“Then why not let them search? Egad, I'd say, look away to your heart's content, pry into every hole and corner you please, only don't do any mischief to the furniture — don't let any ——”

“I was about to ask your assistance, Sir, but your counsel saves me from the false step. To one who proffers such wise advice, arguments like these” — and she pointed to the pistols — “arguments like these would be most distasteful; and yet let us see if others may not be of your mind too.” And steadily aiming her weapon for a second or two, she sent a ball through the window, about a foot above the head of one of the fellows without. Scarcely had the report rung out and the splintering glass fallen, than the two men leaped to the ground, while a wild cheer, half derision, half anger, burst from the mob beneath. “Now, Sir,” continued she, with a smile of a very peculiar meaning, as she turned towards Merl — “now, Sir, you will perceive that you have got into very indiscreet company, such as I'm sure Captain Martin's letter never prepared you for; and although it is not exactly in accordance with the usual notions of Irish hospitality to point to the door, perhaps you will be grateful to me when I say that you can escape by that corridor. It leads to a stair which will conduct you to the stable-yard. I'll order a saddle-horse for you. I suppose you ride?” And really the glance which accompanied these words was not a flattery. [Chapter XLVII, "Mr. Merl's Experiences in the West," 475]

Commentary

Under rather stressful circumstances, with Magennis at the head of a mob storming the windows of Cro' Martin Castle, Herman Merl finally gets to meet the philanthropic Mary Martin, his client's enlightened cousin. Apprehending the danger posed by the nationalist insurgents, Mary has just despatched Simmy Crow to summon assistance from the police-station at Kiltimmon. The hundred rough-looking men armed with stakes have followed Tom Magennis, "mounted on a wretched horse" (474) through the gates. The mob are apparently looking for somebody who is missing, and insist upon searching the house. Mary is unaware that the object of their search is Joan Landy, Magennis's common-law wife who has fled to Dublin after her grandfather's death.

In Phiz's illustration, the rioters have placed a ladder against the drawing-room windows and are about to break through. Cooly examining the priming of her pistols, Mary descends to the room to confront the mob. Despite the perturbation she shortly reveals, at the moment which Phiz realizes Mary knows precisely how to thwart the violation of Cro' Martin: she expertly aims and discharges her pistol so that the bullet penetrates the window just above the head of the "country men" at the second-storey window, sending the ladderful of Magennis's followers, terrified, tumbling to the ground. In the confusion that follows the mob's entering the drawing-room, Merl makes his escape on horseback. Once Mary feels the mob has exited the grounds and the house is safe, she sends a servant after him, but he refuses to return. Convinced that the estate is relatively worthless and that tenants' rents could only be collected by armed force, he returns hastily to his room at the inn. There, Brierley, Magennis's friend and confidant, conveys a duelling challenge to the timorous money-man. For Merl that is the last straw: ordering his bags packed, he quits The Corragh, and takes the first carriage available from The Martin Arms for Dublin.

Bibliography

Lever, Charles. The Martins of Cro' Martin. Illustrated by Phiz [Hablot Knight Browne]. London: Chapman & Hall, 1856, rpt. 1872.

Lever, Charles. The Martins of Cro' Martin. Illustrated by Phiz [Hablot Knight Browne]. Novels and Romances of Charles Lever. Introduction by Andrew Lang. Lorrequer Edition. Vols. XII and XIII. In two volumes. Boston: Little, Brown, 1907. Project Gutenberg. Last Updated: 28 February 2018.

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Created 7 October 2022