“I succeeded with but this comparatively trifling wound,” and he pointed to his empty sleeve, “but none of the other three got through, nor did their names appear when the lists were exchanged of the prisoners captured.  Therefore, I have no doubt that all fell in the performance of their duty.  We had been great friends, ever since I came out, and their loss has greatly affected me.”

“You are young, and will find fresh friends,” the baron said, briskly.  “Do not let us dwell on the past.  You have now to apply all your energy to getting strong, and if you show as much vigour in that, as in other matters, I hope that in a month’s time you will be well on the road towards complete recovery.”

“I mean to try hard, Baron,” Desmond said, with a smile.  “If I continue to gain strength as quickly as I have done during the journey, I shall certainly insist, before long, on being considered convalescent.”

Day by day, indeed, his strength increased.  At first he wandered about in the park, accompanied by Philip and Anne, for the baron, although somewhat recovered from his attack of gout, still walked with difficulty.  In a week, he again took to horse exercise, and was ere long able to join in hunting and hawking parties.

The house was gay, for the baron, as soon as Desmond was able to take his share in conversation, invited many of the neighbouring gentry to the chateau, and introduced him to them as the man who had done so much for his daughter and himself.  Several entertainments were given, at which the chateau was thrown open to all comers, in honour partly of Desmond and partly of the approaching marriage of the baron’s daughter to Monsieur de la Vallee.

This had been arranged to take place in September.  Before that time arrived, Desmond had completely recovered his strength, and being now fit for service, was anxious to join.  But his friends would not hear of his departure until after the marriage; and as news came that Lille had been captured by the allies, and it was certain that both armies would soon go into winter quarters, and would fight no more that year, he allowed himself to be persuaded to stay.

The siege had been one of the most terrible in history.  The place was nobly defended, and its conquest cost the allies dearly, twelve thousand being killed and wounded, and over seven thousand succumbing to diseases; while of the garrison, nearly seventeen thousand strong, but four thousand five hundred remained alive at the time it capitulated.  Its fall caused general consternation throughout France, for it opened the road to Paris, and during the winter Louis made strenuous efforts to obtain peace; but the terms demanded by the allies were so onerous that the negotiations were broken off.

In spite of the general distress throughout the country, the wedding was a gay one.

Desmond had written to the Duke of Berwick, who was now in Paris, saying that he was fit for duty, and would report himself at the end of the month; and, on the day before he was about to leave Pointdexter, he received a reply from him.