“I am sorry that I can give you no assistance, sir.  Assuredly you are not the son of my cousin, Murroch Kennedy; and had you been, John O’Carroll, the traitor, would have been the last man to whom he would have entrusted you.  I know well the history of all the members of my branch of the family, and can answer, with certainty, that no child was lost, or missing, or unaccounted for at the time he went out; and as all were loyal gentlemen, none would have had any dealings with John O’Carroll, who betrayed the cause for which his brother died fighting at Limerick.  I will, however, jot down, for your information, the other branches of the family of Kennedy and their places of residence, though I fear that there is but little probability of your search being successful, as, during the years that have elapsed since the late war, many must have died.  Others, like my cousin, have taken service in one or other of the continental armies.  Moreover, there is also a possibility that the name by which you are known is not your own.”

“I feel that myself, sir, and fear that my enquiries will not meet with success.  Still, I shall pursue them until I have at least proved that I cannot belong to any well-known branch of the family.  I am much obliged to you, for having so courteously answered my questions, and for your offer to give me a list of the various branches of the family.”

For the next few minutes, Mr. Kennedy was engaged in making out the list, which he then handed to Desmond.

“And now, sir,” the former went on, “that we have finished what we may consider business, will you tell me a little more about yourself?  Your story naturally interests me, and I own that I am surprised that a young gentleman who, from what you have told me, cannot be much more than twenty years old, has risen to the rank of captain, in a brigade where so many officers have signally distinguished themselves.  Your story, too, is an interesting one, and seems to me in many respects remarkable; and possibly, when I hear more of how you came to be brought up by John O’Carroll, it may throw some light upon the subject.”

Desmond gave a detailed account of his life as a boy, and a short sketch of his subsequent adventures.

“A romantic story, young sir,” Mr. Kennedy said, when he had finished, “and to whatever family you belong, they should be proud of possessing so gallant a member.  You tell me that you have a safe conduct, but you did not mention how you obtained it.”

Desmond had abstained from making any allusion, either to the affair with Lord Godolphin, or to that with the Earl of Galway, and he replied: 

“Sir, this is a secret that concerns other people, as well as myself, consequently I am not at liberty to explain it.  I may say, however, that it was given to me on my engagement that my visit to Ireland was one of a private nature only, and that I would in no way meddle with politics.  When I tell you that the Duke of Berwick, himself, granted me the necessary leave of absence, it will prove to you that he, on his part, was well satisfied that the safe conduct had been issued to me without any unworthy offers, on my part, to the Princess Anne’s ministers.”