“There is more than that, sir.  You were baptized on the day she died.  My mistress gave me the paper the priest had given to her, saying that it was of the greatest importance to you, and that I was to give it to Mr. John O’Carroll when, as I promised, I took the child to him.”

“And did you give it him?” Desmond asked eagerly.

“No, your honour.  I took it with me to the castle, but from the reception I got, I thought it best to say nothing about it, but to give it to yourself when you were old enough.  I have got it at home now.  There it is, certifying that Gerald O’Carroll, the son of James O’Carroll and his wife Elizabeth, was baptized by him on the 6th of September, 1692.”

“That is fortunate, indeed,” Desmond exclaimed.  “And now, tell me how this uncle of mine received you.”

“Faith, your honour, he was mightily put out, at first.  He said that I was an impostor, and that he would have me given in charge.  I told him that I had proofs that what I said was true, and that there were many gentlemen, brother officers of Mr. James, who would speak for me, and say in court that a son was born to his brother before he died.  He wanted to get out of me what proofs I had, and who were the officers; but I told him that was my business.  Then he cooled down, and after a time he said that, if he were to let it be known that Mr. James had left a son, the estate would surely be confiscated, seeing that his father died as a rebel fighting against the king; but that, as soon as the persecutions had ceased, and it would be safe to do so, he would say who the child was, and give him his rightful place.  That seemed reasonable enough, and so I left you with him, and have always supposed that he kept his word; and that, as soon as it was safe, he acknowledged you to be master of your father’s estate.”

“And now, Mrs. Rooney, I must think matters over, and see how I had best proceed.  I feel how much I owe to you, and, if I recover my estates, you shall see that I am not ungrateful.  Will you come again tomorrow morning, and bring with you the certificate of my baptism, and all the names that you can recollect of the officers who were intimate with my father?”

Chapter 20:  Gerald O’Carroll.

Mike, who had remained silent during the conversation between his sister and Desmond, returned to the room after seeing her out.

“Well, Mike, you have rendered me many services, but this is the greatest of all.  Little did I think, when you said you had found your sister, and that she was coming to me this morning, that she would be able to clear up the mystery of my birth, and to place me in a position to prove myself a son of James O’Carroll.  I do not say that I shall regain the estates.  My having been in the Brigade will certainly render it difficult for me to do so, though possibly, with the patronage of Lord Godolphin, I may succeed.  For that, however, I care comparatively little.  My object, in coming here, was to obtain proof that I belong to a good Irish family, and that I have no doubt I shall be able to establish.”