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Updated: June 19, 2025
Then, with a slight touch of patronage in his tone, he said: "There is some difference in the relative positions of our families, Mr. O'Ruddy."
McDermott of the Three Trees had a voice and a way with him like you, and Father Burk too, and he was a gentleman born if he could only remain sober." "Well, you've hit it, in the dark or whatever," said I. "I am a gentleman. Indeed I am an O'Ruddy. Have you ever been hearing of my family?" "Not of your honour's branch of it, sure," he made answer confidently.
"It's me, Lady Mary!" said I. "The O'Ruddy, who begs the privilege of a word with you." I heard the slam of a window being shut, then the sound of a light step across the floor, and after that she said with a catch in her voice, "I'll be pleased you should come in, Mr. O'Ruddy." I tried the door, but found it locked. "How can I come in, Lady Mary," says I, "if you've got bolts held against me?"
Father Donovan was in bed and asleep, and I was afraid to leave the guarding of the stair to any one else. It seemed that hours and hours passed, and I began to wonder was daylight never going to come, when the most welcome sound I ever heard was the well-known tones of a voice which came up from the bottom of the well. "Are you there, Mr. O'Ruddy?"
But the name of a great conqueror had simply appalled him and smitten him back. The Earl was gazing at me with an entirely new expression. He had cleverly eliminated all dislike from his eyes. He covered me with a friendly regard. "O'Ruddy," he said softly, "I would have some private speech with you. Come into my chamber."
"'Tis for few girls I would become a dove to carry notes between lovers," he said gloomily. "Damn you for it, O'Ruddy!" "Nay, Colonel," said I. "'Tis no missive of love. Look you!" But still he kept his eyes averted. "I judge it was not meant for my eyes," he said, still very gloomy.
I strode to the door; I turned and bowed; as I did so, I believe I saw something in Lady Mary's eyes which I wished to see there. I closed the door behind me. But immediately there was a great clamour in the room I had left, and the door was thrown violently open again. Colonel Royale appeared in a high passion: "No, no, O'Ruddy," he shouted, "you are a gallant gentleman.
I knew what to do with his tatters, but that crimson thatch dumfounded me. However there was no going back now, so I set to work upon him. Luckily my wardrobe represented three generations of O'Ruddy clothes, and there was a great plenty. I put my impostor in a suit of blue velvet with a flowered waistcoat and stockings of pink. I gave him a cocked hat and a fine cloak.
I wished to swear to him that I was a brother in blood, I wished to cut a vein to give him everlasting strength but perhaps his sister Mary had something to do with this feeling. Colonel Royale had been fidgeting. Now he said suddenly: "Strepp, I wronged you. Your pardon, Mr. O'Ruddy; but, damme, Strepp, if I didn't think you had gone wrong for the moment." Lord Strepp took the offered hand.
She smoothed his bed and coaxed him and comforted him. Never had I seen such tenderness. It was like a vision of a classic hereafter. In a second I would have exchanged my youth for the position of this doddering old nobleman who spat blood into a napkin. Suddenly the Earl wheeled his eyes and saw me. "Ha, Mary!" he cried feebly, "I wish to point out a rogue. There he stands! The O'Ruddy!
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