More than that, this voyage to Rathmullan reminded me of another time when my crew was more to my taste than this lumbering trooper; and, as if to complete my trouble, Miss Kit came down gaily to the jetty to speed the parting guest. "It's a pity we could not keep you, Captain Lestrange, till my father returned. You must come again when times are quieter." "That'll not be this year or next," said the young officer; "but whenever it is, I could hardly find you looking prettier than you are now, Miss Gorman." "Wait till you see," said she, with a saucy laugh, waving her hand as we pushed off. I had it in my heart to upset the boat as the fellow stood and kissed his hand. "Sit down, sir, if you please, and trim the boat," I said. "By your leave, sir, till I haul the sail." And before he was aware of it I hauled away, and left him kissing his hand to a sheet of white canvas that interposed between him and my little mistress. That solaced me vastly. Once out on the lough I found my passenger, who was little more than a lad of twenty, friendly enough, and inclined to while away the voyage with chat. "So the master's at Malin, after the smugglers?" said he. "Troth, yes," said I; "but they're hard boys to catch." "I wouldn't thank you for fools that ran into your arms," said he. "'Deed you won't find many such in these parts." "What's that building on the far point there?" he asked presently, pointing to Kilgorman. "That's Kilgorman House, colonel." "Oh! There's some story about that house surely. Somebody was murdered or robbed--what was it?" "His honour's brother, Terence Gorman, owned it. And he was shot on the hill fifteen years ago; and nobody will go near the place since." "Oh, I remember now," said he. "And there was something about a lady and child that died too. I heard about it from a cracked body that was servant to my sister-in-law in Paris." "Biddy McQuilkin," said I. "Sure she's in France still!" "What, do you know her?" "She's from these parts, colonel." "Well, she may be there still, unless they're all dead. Paris is a hot place for any one just now. When they kill kings, and cut off heads like turnip-tops, it's no place for strangers." "They do say the French will be this length before long," said I, recalling some of the talk I had heard at his honour's table. He eyed me sharply. "They do, do they? And how come you to know it?" "Sure, it's common talk," said I; "and more by tokens, they've sent their guns before them." "The less you talk about what you don't understand the better," said the officer, looking glum; "but I'd give any one a hundred pounds to tell me where they put the arms when they land them." Here I thought it wise to be silent. I could have earned a hundred pounds easily that afternoon. When we reached Rathmullan, a sergeant was down on the pier awaiting Captain Lestrange.