“Gentlemen,” he said, “I must ask you all to accompany me to the common room.  I have news of importance to give you.”

He and those with him dismounted, and, followed by the wondering officers of the regiment, went into the large room where they gathered in the evening.

“The news that I am about to give you is of an important and happy nature.  His Most Gracious Majesty has decided to send an expedition to Scotland, where the whole country is ready to rise in favour of our lawful king.”

A cheer broke from his hearers.

“Many Scottish and Irish gentlemen,” the colonel went on, “have been selected to accompany it.  Among them is my friend, Colonel Wauchop, and the officers with him.  The expedition will consist of six thousand French troops.  I regret to say that no Irish regiments will accompany it.”

A groan of disappointment followed this announcement.

“We must hope,” the colonel said, “that Irish troops are not employed, only because it is intended that another expedition will sail to Ireland, in which case we may be sure that some of us will have an opportunity of fighting, again, on our own side of the water.  Moreover, between France and Scotland there has long been a close connection and friendship, and the employment of French troops would, therefore, better suit the Scots than would be the case with Irishmen.  Another reason perhaps is, the King of France does not like to spare his best troops, when he has sore need of them in Flanders and Spain.

“However, a number of Irish officers will accompany the expedition, for the purpose of drilling and commanding the new levies, for which work they will be far better suited, by their knowledge of English, than French officers would be.  Therefore, the various Irish regiments are all to furnish a certain number of lieutenants.  Generals Hamilton, Sheldon, Dorrington, and Lords Galmoy and Fitzgerald, and our friend Colonel Wauchop will be in command of the newly-raised force, having with them many Scotch officers now in the service of France.

“The secret of the expedition has been well kept, but I have known it for a fortnight, and have prepared a list of the fifteen officers who are to go.  I may say that, in order to avoid partiality, I have, with one exception, selected them by lot.  Those who are to go will doubtless consider themselves fortunate.  Those who are to stay are still more lucky, if, as I hope, the regiment will form part of a similar expedition sent to Ireland.”

He then read out the list of the officers chosen.  O’Sullivan and O’Neil were both among them, and the name of Desmond Kennedy was the last read out.

“You will, gentlemen, start in an hour’s time, taking the northern road through Montvidier and Arras.  In each of these towns you will be joined by officers from other regiments.  Colonel Wauchop will accompany you.  I do not name the port from which you are to sail, and no word must be said, by you, as to the route you are to travel; but you can no doubt judge for yourselves, by the road that you are taking, what port is your destination.  The French troops will be already there, and the fleet is all in readiness.