On the fifth day after leaving Madrid he arrived at Badajos, with the sergeant, the four troopers, and Mike.  After some formalities—­for the town, being close to the frontier, was liable at any moment to be suddenly attacked—­Desmond was conducted to the governor, a pompous Spanish officer.

“Are you yourself Major Kennedy?” he asked, looking with some surprise at his young visitor.

“My name is Kennedy, sir, and I have the honour of being major, and to serve on the staff of his grace, the Duke of Orleans.  I am the bearer of a letter to you from His Majesty, King Philip.”

The Spaniard took the letter and read it, and Desmond could see, by the expression of his countenance, that he was by no means pleased.

“I do not understand,” he said coldly, “why an officer should have been specially despatched to obtain information which I have already duly furnished.”

“I understood from the Duke of Orleans, sir, that as news has been received that the enemy’s plans were to cross the frontier near this town, it became a matter of special importance to see that it was sufficiently supplied with provisions, and munitions of war to stand a siege.  It has been found more than once that, owing to the culpable neglect of subordinates, fortresses when besieged were by no means so well supplied with provisions, powder and shot, as had been supposed.  Naturally, the governor of a fortress like this, with a considerable garrison, is too much occupied to personally superintend all these matters, and must leave them in the hands of his subordinates, who on their part commit them to those of sergeants and storekeepers; so that, while everything is reported to be ready, there are really deficiencies.  A waste often takes place in the distribution of stores, and the matter was so important that the king requested the duke to send one of his staff to give you every assistance, and to receive your suggestions, which will be complied with to their full extent.  As your last report was sent in some three months back, necessarily considerable changes have taken place, in that time.”

“Well, sir, I will obey His Majesty’s orders, and give you every facility.  My officers shall be instructed to open such magazines as you may select, and you will be then able personally to judge as to the quantity and condition of the stores.  It will, of course, be impossible, unless with an immense expenditure of labour, to go through the whole of the magazines and to reckon up their contents; but as many as you wish shall be opened, and a party of soldiers told off to count the bales and cases.”

“A very few will suffice, sir.  Of course, in the event of a battle being fought and a reverse occurring, the enemy might sit down before your town.  You would be exposed to a long siege, for it might be some time before the army was again in a position to advance and fight another battle, or raise the siege.  I have little doubt that everything will be found in excellent order, but should there be any deficiencies, the duke assured me that they would be at once made good.”