my curiosity for the time at least. In about two hours the woman
gave birth to a boy, and as soon as I could leave with safety, I
donned my clothes and left for home, the man who had engaged me
putting me into a cab with great politeness, and paying the driver,
he ordered him to deposit me in safety at my residence.

The next morning I was surprised to read in the paper that a
quantity of arms and ammunition had been sent here from the Fenian
headquarters in New York, and that although it was known that they
were secreted somewhere about Griffintown, the police had been
altogether baffled in their search for them. A new light now dawned
upon me, particularly as I recollected that the room in which my
patient lay was filled with long, coffin-shaped boxes, the uses of
which I had been unable to guess. I accordingly consulted with my
husband as to what course I should pursue. Was I, having come by
this information in my professional capacity, to shut my eyes to
these doings, or, taking advantage of my position, to inform the
police? My husband argued in this way:--If these people had been
guilty of a crime, which could not now be ameliorated or averted, it
would be a straining point for me to take advantage of what I had
learnt by accident and to bring them to justice; but that as in this
case a great national trouble _might be averted_, and many lives
saved, by timely information, it was my duty to exert myself in the
interests of the community by putting a check on their movements.
With this end in view I communicated with Mr. P----, then Chief of
Police, and from my description he said he had no doubt but these
were the very persons of whom they were in search, and that if I
could only manage to frame an excuse for the introduction of a
detective, he would make sure of their identity before making any
arrests.