“Two lines by that d—­d Cardonnel, and no more, for the taking of Lille—­for beating five times our number—­for an action as brilliant as the best he ever fought,” says poor Mr. Webb.  “Lieutenant-General!  That’s not his doing.  I was the oldest major-general.  By ——­, I believe he had been better pleased if I had been beat.”

The letter to the Dutch officer was in French, and longer and more complimentary than that to Mr. Webb.

“And this is the man,” he broke out, “that’s gorged with gold—­that’s covered with titles and honors that we won for him—­and that grudges even a line of praise to a comrade in arms!  Hasn’t he enough?  Don’t we fight that he may roll in riches?  Well, well, wait for the Gazette, gentlemen.  The Queen and the country will do us justice if his Grace denies it us.”  There were tears of rage in the brave warrior’s eyes as he spoke; and he dashed them off his face on to his glove.  He shook his fist in the air.  “Oh, by the Lord!” says he, “I know what I had rather have than a peerage!”

“And what is that, sir?” some of them asked.

“I had rather have a quarter of an hour with John Churchill, on a fair green field, and only a pair of rapiers between my shirt and his—­”

“Sir!” interposes one.

“Tell him so!  I know that’s what you mean.  I know every word goes to him that’s dropped from every general officer’s mouth.  I don’t say he’s not brave.  Curse him! he’s brave enough; but we’ll wait for the Gazette, gentlemen.  God save her Majesty! she’ll do us justice.”

The Gazette did not come to us till a month afterwards; when my General and his officers had the honor to dine with Prince Eugene in Lille; his Highness being good enough to say that we had brought the provisions, and ought to share in the banquet.  ’Twas a great banquet.  His Grace of Marlborough was on his Highness’s right, and on his left the Mareschal de Boufflers, who had so bravely defended the place.  The chief officers of either army were present; and you may be sure Esmond’s General was splendid this day:  his tall noble person, and manly beauty of face, made him remarkable anywhere; he wore, for the first time, the star of the Order of Generosity, that his Prussian Majesty had sent to him for his victory.  His Highness the Prince of Savoy called a toast to the conqueror of Wynendael.  My Lord Duke drank it with rather a sickly smile.  The aides-de-camp were present:  and Harry Esmond and his dear young lord were together, as they always strove to be when duty would permit:  they were over against the table where the generals were, and could see all that passed pretty well.  Frank laughed at my Lord Duke’s glum face:  the affair of Wynendael, and the Captain-General’s conduct to Webb, had been the talk of the whole army.  When his Highness spoke, and gave—­“Le vainqueur de Wynendael; son armee et sa victoire,” adding, “qui nous font diner a Lille aujourd’huy”—­there was a great cheer through the hall; for Mr. Webb’s bravery, generosity, and very weaknesses of character caused him to be beloved in the army.