“That is so, Mike.  There is no denying it.  And I believe it is one reason why so many disasters have befallen the French army.  The generals are, as a rule, good, and the soldiers are excellent, but the staff are generally altogether incompetent, and seem to consider that the fact that they are nobles renders it unnecessary for them to give attention to details, or to be more than ornamental figures in the general’s train.  And when we see the authority of Vendome overruled by a young prince, who is grandson of the king, and nothing else, one must not be surprised that it is the same all through the army.”

That evening, Desmond received a packet containing his appointment as major while on special service, details of instructions as to the points to be attended to, and letters from the duke to the commandant of the garrison at Toledo, and from Philip to the Governor at Badajos.

The next morning he started at daybreak, accompanied by Mike, and arrived that evening at Toledo.  Here he presented his letter to the commandant.

“Very well, sir,” the officer said, when he had read it.  “At what hour do you wish the escort and guide to be ready in the morning?”

“I should like to start as early as possible, Colonel.  I myself, being well mounted, might cross the sierra in a day; but the troopers’ horses could not do that.”

“You would not gain anything if they could, Major Kennedy, for even if your horse could carry you over sixty or seventy miles of mountain roads in a day, you would certainly need a couple of days’ rest before proceeding farther.  If you get as far as Enmedio, which is in the heart of the sierra, you will have done well.  You will then have another long day’s ride down to Ciudad Real, from which place the officer with six of the troopers will return.  The general says nothing about a noncommissioned officer, but I shall take it upon myself to send one to accompany you, with the four men.  It will take a good deal of trouble off your hands.”

“I am much obliged to you, Colonel.”

“Now that we have finished business,” the officer said, “we can talk of other things.  You will, of course, put up here.  I have two or three spare rooms, and the accommodation at the inns is wretched.  I am always very glad when an officer rides through, because we hear little enough about what is passing, and as there is no sort of sociability among the Spaniards, life is very dull here, and one is very glad of the change.”

“Thank you, Colonel.  I will gladly accept your invitation.”

The colonel rang a bell, and ordered a servitor, who answered, to show Major Kennedy’s servant where to put up his master’s horses and his own, to bring up the officer’s valises, and to make the soldier comfortable below.

“We shall sup in half an hour,” he said to Desmond, when the man had left.  “Two of my majors are going to share the meal.”

As soon as the valises were brought up, Desmond changed his uniform, got rid of the dust of the road, and was just ready when a servant knocked at the door and said that the supper was served.  The meal was a pleasant one.  The three French officers were anxious to hear the last news that had reached Madrid from France.  The conversation did not flag for a moment during the meal.