The party on the hill had watched the pursuit, until the earl said: 

“Well, gentlemen, I fancy he has slipped from our hands.  I admit that I am hardly sorry, for he was a very fine young fellow, and it would have been a pity for him to be spending, perhaps some years of the best part of his life, in prison.

“Captain Chetwynde, will you order the trumpeter to sound the recall?  They are leaving our men behind fast.  It is no use losing four troopers as well as two prisoners.”

More than one quiet smile was exchanged between the English officers, for, from the tone in which the earl spoke, they had no doubt that he was by no means sorry at Desmond’s escape, and that possibly he had even taken him forward with him to afford him a chance of making it.  They had, indeed, been a little surprised that, when Desmond withdrew his parole, the earl had not ordered him into strict confinement, instead of taking him with him on his reconnaissance.

The pursuit over, Desmond rode on at a canter to Badajos, and reported to Colonel Crofton that he had been taken prisoner, but had managed to effect his escape, as he was but carelessly guarded.

“I shall now, sir, return to Madrid.  I have completed the work I was told to carry out, and shall finish writing up my report this afternoon, and start tomorrow morning.”

“I congratulate you on your escape.  The Portuguese are not very particular, and might, as likely as not, have paid small regard to the fact that you were in uniform.”

“Fortunately, sir, it was not by them that I was captured, but by a small party of English dragoons, who were, I fancy, like myself, investigating the state of the roads.”

Desmond had not been called upon to give evidence before the commission of enquiry, it being found that all the contractors had left their homes, a week before the troops arrived at Badajos, taking all portable property with them.  Some had apparently gone to Andalusia, while others had made for Catalonia.  All had unquestionably made a considerable sum of money by their frauds, and would take good care not to fall into the hands of the French.

“They will never be able to return here,” Desmond remarked to Colonel Crofton.

The latter smiled.

“You do not know these people yet, Captain Kennedy, or you would not say so.  Some of these fellows are certainly among the richest men in the province, and we may be quite sure that, in a very short time, when the affair has blown over, they will, partly by influence and more by bribery, obtain from the central junta an order that no proceedings shall be taken against them.  Anything can be done with money in Spain.  There are many upright and honourable Spaniards, but very few of them take any part in public affairs, and would not associate with such men as those who are in the ascendant in all the provincial juntas, and even in the central body in Madrid.