"Ye may wonder that missie comes to see me, sir," exclaimed Phinias, who had been quite quick enough to discern the frown of displeasure on the young masther's brow. "Why, thin, I'll explain to yourself," he continued. "She's a little miss that ain't to be seen often, and she was put into my charge on board the boat. Why to be sure I didn't recognise John Mansfield at the first go-off, but when I did, I couldn't but accept the duty put on me. She's a dear little miss and wasn't no throuble at all even to sphake about, only she was fair mad to get to Desmondstown." "Now, listen, Phinias, I want to speak to you," said Fergus. "Time is short and there is a great deal to be done. I want you to tell me, my good fellow, all that you know of John Mansfield." "All that I know, Mr. Desmond? I know nought but what's good about the best gintleman that ever walked. It isn't to say that he's middlin' good, but he's high up among the saints, your honour. He's a priest of the Holy Church. Nobody must say a word against John Mansfield 'fore me, yer beautiful honour." "I don't want to say a word against the man," said Fergus. "You just told me that he put a little child into your care." "Yes, he did, and as dacent and as purty a colleen as could be found in the breadth of the British Isles." "I know all about her," said Fergus. "The child is a dear child. She is my niece and granddaughter to The Desmond, but what I want to find out is this--how she comes to be niece also to John Mansfield." "Sure then, did ye never hear of Farmer Mansfield of these parts?" "What," said Fergus, stepping back a pace and a frown coming over his handsome features. "You don't mean to insinuate that my niece is a relation of that old scoundrel?" "The man took to dhrink and dhrink finished him entirely," said Phinias, "but his son John was always a good boy, always and forever--good of the good and best of the best, and how could he possibly be responsible for the sins of his fathers? He saved money and had himself eddicated--eh, fine; fine. He's a mighty scholard is John Mansfield and has the gentlest and truest heart in the world and he took missie when she was a babby and reared her up fine and she calls him her uncle." "Oh, well, he's not her uncle," said Fergus. "Don't be so sure of that, Mr. Desmond, your honour. He's her uncle near as much as you are." "What do you mean?" said Desmond. "I'll tell ye, sir, if ye'll give me time to get me breath. Well, it was like this. You may remember how beautiful, lovely Miss Kathleen went to London and married a Frenchy, but nobody ever said a word about Miss Priscilla." Fergus found himself starting.