In a few minutes they met the squadron of cavalry, who had, as the general supposed, been sent out by the Governor of Elvas to meet him.  Half of these now took their place in front, and the remainder, drawing aside to let the party pass, fell in behind.  Mike had, without orders, fallen in with the earl’s escort; and more than once Desmond heard his laugh, as he chatted with the troopers.  On arriving at Elvas, the general directed his aides-de-camp to obtain a room, for Desmond, in the house in which they were quartered; and as no one attended to him, Mike undertook his usual duties as his servant.

The next morning, one of the aides-de-camp came in, and said: 

“The general wishes to speak to you, Captain Kennedy.”

On entering the general’s apartment, the earl asked him to take a seat.

“I could not see you yesterday evening,” he began, “as I was learning from the Governor the state of the stores here.  I should like to have a talk with you.  May I ask you, in the first place, how you have so early attained the rank of captain?  My aide-de-camp tells me that you said you had attracted the notice of the King of France.  It must have been by some singular action, and as I have an hour to spare, before I ride out, I shall be glad if you can tell me some particulars about yourself; unless, indeed, they are of a private nature.”

“Not at all, sir.  The story is generally known to members of the court at Versailles, and indeed to all Paris;” and he then related to the earl the story of his release of Anne de Pointdexter from her imprisonment, the journey to the south, the attack on the party by the Vicomte de Tulle, and her second rescue from him.

“Thank you, sir,” the general said, when he had concluded.  “I am not surprised that, after so romantic an adventure, the King of France took notice of an officer who had shown such courage and intelligence.  You see, sir, that you and I are, to a certain extent, in a similar position.  From motives of religion, principally, you Irish have left your country, and are fighting for a foreign monarch.  I, as you are doubtless aware, belong to a French Huguenot family, and, being forced to leave France by the severe edicts, entered the service of Holland, and followed the fortunes of King William, and am now fighting against the troops of the country of my birth.  In other respects, there is a similarity.  We have both lost a hand in the service of our adopted countries; I at the siege of Badajos, and you at—?”

“Oudenarde, sir.”

“I have been thinking it over,” the general went on.  “I might, of course, send you to Lisbon as a prisoner, but one extra prisoner would not largely benefit my government.  You have not been taken in action.  Your papers have saved me an immense deal of trouble, for we are no more able to rely upon the information given by the Portuguese than, I should think, the Duke of Orleans can upon that of the Spaniards.