In doing this, he made no mention of the seizure of Lord Godolphin.  He knew that the minister was anxious that this should not get abroad, and, as he had behaved fairly to them, Desmond considered that he ought to remain silent on the subject; and merely said that, on their arrival at Rye, they had made an arrangement with a man who was in the habit of conveying persons secretly, to or from France, to take them across the channel.

“You amaze me more and more, Kennedy,” the colonel said.  “Six months ago, when you joined, you seemed to me little more than a boy, and yet you have been through adventures that demanded the brain and courage of a veteran.  We missed you all much; but I hope we shall soon get the others back again, for I had news the other day, from Paris, that arrangements for their exchange were going on, and no doubt they will rejoin as soon as they land.

“There is little chance of you, O’Neil and O’Sullivan coming back to the regiment; but, at any rate, as Berwick’s force is sure to join ours, as soon as operations begin in earnest, we shall often see you.”

It was the end of June before the main army advanced.  Desmond had returned to Peronne after the capture of the three Flemish towns, and was warmly praised by Berwick for the manner in which he had carried out the work entrusted to him.  On the 6th of July, he received orders to accompany the duke.

“There is bad news,” Captain Fromart said, entering the room where the four aides-de-camp were together.  “You know the marshal had commenced the siege of Oudenarde.  We have news now that the enemy has suddenly advanced towards him, and he has been obliged to raise the siege, and fall back across the Scheldt.  The troops are to go forward at once.  The duke will ride on, with all speed, in accordance with Vendome’s urgent request.  All four of you are to go on with him.  I shall accompany the force here.

“There is no time to be lost.  The duke’s horse is to be at the door in a quarter of an hour, and it will not please him to be kept waiting.  You had better leave your spare horses, for the present.  I have already warned the escort.”

It was a short notice, but by the time named the four aides-de-camp were in their saddles, as were their soldier servants, for by this time Desmond’s two friends had obtained servants from a dragoon regiment.  They were but just in time, for they had scarcely mounted when the duke came out, sprang into his saddle, and went off at a canter.

The distance was some fifty miles.  They stopped once for two hours, to refresh themselves and their horses, and rode into Vendome’s camp soon after nightfall.  A large tent had been already erected for Berwick’s use, close to that of the marshal; and another, close by, for the use of the officers who might come with him.

A quarter of an hour later, a soldier entered the aides-de-camp’s tent, with a large tray.