It ran as follows: 

Dear Monsieur Kennedy: 

I am heartily glad to hear of your restoration to health.  I mentioned you to His Majesty today, who was pleased to speak very highly of you.

The campaign is virtually at an end, for the present year.  His Majesty has informed me that various changes will be made in the spring.  Marshal de Villars is to replace the Duke of Vendome in the command of the northern army.  The latter has been unfortunate, and misfortune on the part of a soldier is regarded as next door to a crime.  Certainly the defeat at Oudenarde was not his fault, but had he taken my advice, Lille might have been saved.  Doubtless he was as much dissatisfied with me as I was with him, and perhaps with reason; for, as you know, I am not accustomed to mince my phrases.  However, as His Majesty was pleased to say, it is evident that having two generals acting together, each with an independent command, is a mistake, and one that should not be again committed.  Therefore, next spring I am to take the command of an army in Dauphiny, and to check the Austrians and Italians.

He said, “If you can spare him, Duke, I should be glad if you would let me have this young Irishman for a time.  I shall promote him to the rank of captain, for the great service he rendered in carrying, as you say, at grievous risk and with the loss of his hand, the order to the troops at Diepenbeck to scatter during the night, thus saving me at least ten thousand of my soldiers.  I shall also settle upon him a pension of fifty louis a year, for the loss of his hand.  I will send him to Spain, having had several complaints from the Duke of Orleans” (who, as you know, is now in command there) “of the incompetence of many of his staff”.

I said that, although I had found you a most zealous and useful officer, and had a warm regard for you, I would of course accede to His Majesty’s wishes in the matter.  Enclosed in this letter is the order for you to join the Duke of Orleans, and a private letter from myself to the duke, giving a sketch of your services and exploits, which will doubtless give you, at once, a place in his favour.

I do not think that this war will last very much longer.  France is well-nigh ruined by the sacrifices she has made, and the drain upon the allies must be almost as great.  Therefore, I trust that another campaign will bring it to an end.  If not, you may be assured that when the duke no longer requires your services—­and it is probable that, after a year’s campaigning, he will be heartily tired with the difficulties that he, as I did, will meet with from the procrastination and general stupidity of the Spanish—­you will be free to return to me, and I shall be glad to number you again among the members of my staff.

Desmond was sorry to leave the service of the duke, but consoled himself with the hope that it would be only temporary; and the prospect of a year’s campaigning, in a new country, was by no means displeasing to him.  Therefore, after writing a suitable letter to the duke, he took leave of the Baron Pointdexter, with many thanks for his kindness, and, attended by Mike, started for Spain.