“Sure, your honour, you are arguing it out like a counsellor, and there is no gainsaying what you have spoken.  I have no doubt you will ferret it out.  With such a head as you have on your shoulders, it is hard if you cannot circumvent that ould rascal at Kilkargan.”

“At any rate we will try, you and I. While I am visiting the Kennedys, you can be finding out people who were at Limerick during the siege, and gather all they can remember about the Kennedys there.”

As Desmond had expected, the duke, as soon as he heard his story, at once granted him leave of absence.

“I hope you may succeed, Kennedy,” he said.  “It is a poor lookout to be risking death continually in the service of a foreign king.  I grant that we have the knack of making ourselves at home, wherever we may be, and there are Irish officers in every army in Europe; but, however successful Irishmen may be, they cannot but long to be among their own people in their own land.  And if, as you tell me, Lord Godolphin will befriend you, I for one shall think no worse of you if you settle down at home when you have found your family.  I know that if the sword should be again drawn, with a fair prospect of success, you will declare for the rightful king.”

“That I should certainly do, sir; and will assuredly give no promise, or undertaking, to abstain from joining any royal army that may be raised in Ireland.  But it is not with any intention of settling at home that I am going there, but simply, as I have told you, to discover to what family I belong, so that I can have a right to the name I bear.”

“At what port will you embark?”

“I intend to pay a visit, for a few days, to the Baron de Pointdexter and Monsieur de la Vallee, after which I shall cross into Italy.  I have no doubt that I shall be able to find some fishermen, at Toulon, who will undertake to land me somewhere near Genoa, where I shall be able to take a passage in a ship bound for England.”

“And I suppose you take your servant with you?”

“With your permission, Duke.  He has been my companion for three years.  He is shrewd as well as brave, and will give me valuable help in my enquiries.”

After remaining a couple of days with Berwick’s army, Desmond started with Mike, and received the warmest welcome from the Baron de Pointdexter, and afterwards from Philip and his wife.  Then they travelled on to Toulon, where Desmond sold the horses and equipments.  He left his uniform and Mike’s there, and procured two civilian suits.  As he anticipated, he experienced no difficulty in arranging to be landed near Genoa.  There he found several ships bound for England or Ireland, and took a passage in one that would touch at Cork, on its way to Dublin.  The voyage was uneventful, and the ship, which had no great draught of water, proceeded up the river to the city.

“The first thing to do, Mike,” Desmond said, as they stepped ashore, “is to get rid of these clothes, whose French cut will at once attract attention.  I shall get a suit such as is worn by an Irish gentleman.  You had better equip yourself as my servant.  No livery is worn here, but any quiet dress will be suitable.”