I see. Did none of the generals ask after
me?"

"You _are_ a queer one!" said the dragoon, not a little puzzled what to
make of him.

Mike meanwhile thrust the papers carelessly into his pocket, and strode
into the house, whistling a quick-step as he went, with the air of a man
perfectly devoid of care or occupation. The next moment, however, he
appeared at my door, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand, and
apparently breathless with haste.

"Despatches, Mister Charles, despatches from Lord Wellington. The orderly
is waiting below for a return."

"Tell him he shall have it in one moment," replied I. "And now bring me a
light."

Before I had broken the seal of the envelope, Mike was once more at the
porch.

"My master is writing a few lines to say he'll do it. Don't be talking
of it," added he, dropping his voice, "but they want him to take another
fortress."

What turn the dialogue subsequently took, I cannot say, for I was entirely
occupied by a letter which accompanied the despatches. It ran as follows:--

QUARTER-GENERAL,

CIUDAD RODRIGO, Jan. 20, 1812.

Dear Sir,--The commander-in-chief has been kind enough to accord you
the leave of absence you applied for, and takes the opportunity
of your return to England to send you the accompanying letters
for his Royal Highness the Duke of York. To his approval of
your conduct in the assault last night you owe this distinguished
mark of Lord Wellington's favor, which, I hope, will be duly
appreciated by you, and serve to increase your zeal for that service
in which you have already distinguished yourself.

Believe me that I am most happy in being made the medium of
this communication, and have the honor to be,

Very truly yours,

T. PICTON.

I read and re-read this note again and again. Every line was conned over by
me, and every phrase weighed and balanced in my mind. Nothing could be more
gratifying, nothing more satisfactory to my feelings; and I would not have
exchanged its possession for the brevet of a lieutenant-colonel.

"Halloo, Orderly!" cried I, from the window, as I hurriedly sealed my few
words of acknowledgment, "take this note back to General Picton, and here's
a guinea for yourself." So saying, I pitched into his ready hand one of the
very few which remained to me in the world. "This is, indeed, good news!"
said I, to myself. "This is, indeed, a moment of unmixed happiness!