They put up at a small inn, and remained there until a suit such as Desmond desired was made for him, and Mike found no difficulty in purchasing ready-made clothes suitable to his new position.  Desmond had taken rooms as Mr. Kennedy, and had asked carelessly if there were any families of that name living in the neighbourhood.

“There is one who lives a short distance out of the town.  It is a small house, and shame it is that one of the old family should come down so; but most of their estates were stolen from them after the war.  Still, the old man holds his head as if he was still lord of broad acres, and he is mightily respected among the gentry.”

The next day, Desmond hired a horse and rode out to the house of Mr. Kennedy, which was some three miles from the town.  He sent in his name, and was shown into a room, where a tall man, with a somewhat haughty air, received him not unkindly.

“Your name is the same as my own,” he said, “though I do not recognize the name of Desmond Kennedy among such members of the family as I am acquainted with.”

“I have but just landed from France, and my object in coming here is to obtain some information as to my father’s family.  Hearing that a gentleman of the name lived here, I came first to you.  May I ask if you were acquainted with a Murroch Kennedy?”

“Surely I was.  He was my first cousin.  We fought side by side at Limerick.  I was not one of those who cared to enter foreign service.  My estates were confiscated, and I have ever since lived here on the wreck of my fortune, taking no part in politics.

“My cousin was of a different mind.  He did not, indeed, go out at once with the greater part of the army of Limerick, but still, hoping that the cause was not altogether lost, he lived for some months among the mountains, and took part in a rising which was promptly suppressed, and then joined the Irish Brigade; and I received a notification, from one of his brother officers, that he had fallen at the battle of Breda.  And now may I ask, in turn, what Murroch Kennedy’s relationship was to you?”

“I will tell you, sir.  But first, will you kindly inform me whether your cousin left a child about a year old behind him?”

“Certainly not, sir.  My cousin was an unmarried man, at any rate up to the time when he left Ireland.”

“Then, sir, my questions are at an end.  I may tell you that, about the time your cousin left Ireland, I was sent as an infant to the care of John O’Carroll, the traitor, of Kilkargan, and was brought up under the name of Desmond Kennedy.  He showed me but little kindness, and, nearly three years ago, I went abroad and obtained a commission in one of the regiments in the Irish Brigade, and now hold the rank of captain.  For many reasons, I am anxious to find out what family I belong to.  It was assumed, by my colonel and fellow officers, that I was the son of Murroch Kennedy, and I wished to ascertain whether this was true, and with that object obtained leave of absence, and made my way back.”