Once，whenPrinceEugenewaswounded，ourDuketookhisHighness'splaceinthetrenches;butthesiegewaswiththeImperialists，notwithus。AdivisionunderWebbandRantzauwasdetachedintoArtoisandPicardyuponthemostpainfulandodiousservicethatMr。Esmondeversawinthecourseofhismilitarylife。Thewretchedtownsofthedefencelessprovinces，whoseyoungmenhadbeendraftedawayintotheFrencharmies，whichyearafteryeartheinsatiablewardevoured，wereleftatourmercy;andourordersweretoshowthemnone。Wefoundplacesgarrisonedbyinvalids，andchildrenandwomen;poorastheywere，andasthecostsofthismiserablewarhadmadethem，ourcommissionwastorobthesealmoststarvingwretches——totearthefoodoutoftheirgranaries，andstripthemoftheirrags。'Twasanexpeditionofrapineandmurderweweresenton:oursoldiersdiddeedssuchasanhonestmanmustblushtoremember。WebroughtbackmoneyandprovisionsinquantitytotheDuke'scamp;therehadbeennoonetoresistus，andyetwhodarestotellwithwhatmurderandviolence，withwhatbrutalcruelty，outrage，insult，thatignoblebootyhadbeenravishedfromtheinnocentandmiserablevictimsofthewar？
Meanwhile，gallantlyastheoperationsbeforeLillehadbeenconducted，theAllieshadmadebutlittleprogress，and'twassaidwhenwereturnedtotheDukeofMarlborough'scamp，thatthesiegewouldneverbebroughttoasatisfactoryend，andthatthePrinceofSavoywouldbeforcedtoraiseit。MyLordMarlboroughgavethisashisopinionopenly;thosewhomistrustedhim，andMr。
Esmondownshimselftobeofthenumber，hintedthattheDukehadhisreasonswhyLilleshouldnotbetaken，andthathewaspaidtothatendbytheFrenchKing。Ifthiswasso，andIbelieveit，GeneralWebbhadnowaremarkableopportunityofgratifyinghishatredoftheCommander—in—Chief，ofbalkingthatshamefulavarice，whichwasoneofthebasestandmostnotoriousqualitiesofthefamousDuke，andofshowinghisownconsummateskillasacommander。AndwhenIconsiderallthecircumstancesprecedingtheeventwhichwillnowberelated，thatmyLordDukewasactuallyofferedcertainmillionsofcrownsprovidedthatthesiegeofLilleshouldberaised:thattheImperialarmybeforeitwaswithoutprovisionsandammunition，andmusthavedecampedbutforthesuppliesthattheyreceived;thatthemarchoftheconvoydestinedtorelievethesiegewasaccuratelyknowntotheFrench;andthattheforcecoveringitwasshamefullyinadequatetothatend，andbysixtimesinferiortoCountdelaMothe'sarmy，whichwassenttointercepttheconvoy;when'tiscertainthattheDukeofBerwick，DelaMothe'schief，wasinconstantcorrespondencewithhisuncle，theEnglishGeneralissimo:Ibelieveonmyconsciencethat'twasmyLordMarlborough'sintentiontopreventthosesupplies，ofwhichthePrinceofSavoystoodinabsoluteneed，fromeverreachinghisHighness;thathemeanttosacrificethelittlearmywhichcoveredthisconvoy，andtobetrayitashehadbetrayedTollemacheatBrest;ashehadbetrayedeveryfriendhehad，tofurtherhisownschemesofavariceorambition。ButforthemiraculousvictorywhichEsmond'sgeneralwonoveranarmysixorseventimesgreaterthanhisown，thesiegeofLillemusthavebeenraised;anditmustberememberedthatourgallantlittleforcewasunderthecommandofageneralwhomMarlboroughhated，thathewasfuriouswiththeconqueror，andtriedbythemostopenandshamelessinjusticeafterwardstorobhimofthecreditofhisvictory。
CHAPTERXV。
GENERALWEBBWINSTHEBATTLEOFWYNENDAEL。
BythebesiegersandbesiegedofLille，someofthemostbrilliantfeatsofvalorwereperformedthateverillustratedanywar。OntheFrenchside（whosegallantrywasprodigious，theskillandbraveryofMarshalBoufflersactuallyeclipsingthoseofhisconqueror，thePrinceofSavoy）maybementionedthatdaringactionofMessieursdeLuxembourgandTournefort，who，withabodyofhorseanddragoons，carriedpowderintothetown，ofwhichthebesiegedwereinextremewant，eachsoldierbringingabagwithfortypoundsofpowderbehindhim;withwhichperilousprovisiontheyengagedourownhorse，facedthefireofthefootbroughtouttomeetthem:andthoughhalfofthemenwereblownupinthedreadfulerrandtheyrodeon，apartofthemgotintothetownwiththesuccorsofwhichthegarrisonwassomuchinwant。AFrenchofficer，MonsieurduBois，performedanactequallydaring，andperfectlysuccessful。TheDuke'sgreatarmylyingatHelchin，andcoveringthesiege，anditbeingnecessaryforM。deVendosmetogetnewsoftheconditionoftheplace，CaptainDuboisperformedhisfamousexploit:notonlypassingthroughthelinesofthesiege，butswimmingafterwardsnolessthansevenmoatsandditches:andcomingbackthesameway，swimmingwithhislettersinhismouth。
BytheselettersMonsieurdeBoufflerssaidthathecouldundertaketoholdtheplacetillOctober;andthatifoneoftheconvoysoftheAlliescouldbeintercepted，theymustraisethesiegealtogether。
SuchaconvoyashathbeensaidwasnowpreparedatOstend，andabouttomarchforthesiege;andonthe27thSeptemberwe（andtheFrenchtoo）hadnewsthatitwasonitsway。Itwascomposedof700wagons，containingammunitionofallsorts，andwasescortedoutofOstendby2，000infantryand300horse。AtthesametimeM。
delaMothequittedBruges，havingwithhimfive—and—thirtybattalions，andupwardsofsixtysquadronsandfortyguns，inpursuitoftheconvoy。
Major—GeneralWebbhadmeanwhilemadeupaforceoftwentybattalionsandthreesquadronsofdragoonsatTurout，whencehemovedtocovertheconvoyandpursueLaMothe:withwhoseadvancedguardourscameupuponthegreatplainofTurout，andbeforethelittlewoodandcastleofWynendael;behindwhichtheconvoywasmarching。
Assoonastheycameinsightoftheenemy，ouradvancedtroopswerehalted，withthewoodbehindthem，andtherestofourforcebroughtupasquicklyaspossible，ourlittlebodyofhorsebeingbroughtforwardtotheopeningoftheplain，asourGeneralsaid，toamusetheenemy。WhenM。delaMothecameup，hefounduspostedintwolinesinfrontofthewood;andformedhisownarmyinbattlefacingours，ineightlines，fourofinfantryinfront，anddragoonsandcavalrybehind。
TheFrenchbegantheaction，asusual，withacannonadewhichlastedthreehours，whentheymadetheirattack，advancingineightlines，fouroffootandfourofhorse，uponthealliedtroopsinthewoodwherewewereposted。Theirinfantrybehavedill;theywereorderedtochargewiththebayonet，but，instead，begantofire，andalmostattheveryfirstdischargefromourmen，brokeandfled。Thecavalrybehavedbetter;withthesealone，whowerethreeorfourtimesasnumerousasourwholeforce，MonsieurdelaMothemighthavewonvictory:butonlytwoofourbattalionswereshakenintheleast;andthesespeedilyrallied:norcouldtherepeatedattacksoftheFrenchhorsecauseourtroopstobudgeaninchfromthepositioninthewoodinwhichourGeneralhadplacedthem。
Afterattackingfortwohours，theFrenchretiredatnightfallentirelyfoiled。Withallthelosswehadinflicteduponhim，theenemywasstillthreetimesstrongerthanwe:anditcouldnotbesupposedthatourGeneralcouldpursueM。delaMothe，ordomuchmorethanholdourgroundaboutthewood，fromwhichtheFrenchmanhadinvainattemptedtodislodgeus。LaMotheretiredbehindhisfortyguns，hiscavalryprotectingthembetterthanithadbeenenabledtoannoyus;andmeanwhiletheconvoy，whichwasofmoreimportancethanallourlittleforce，andthesafepassageofwhichwewouldhavedroppedtothelastmantoaccomplish，marchedawayinperfectsafetyduringtheaction，andjoyfullyreachedthebesiegingcampbeforeLille。
Major—GeneralCadogan，myLordDuke'sQuarter—Master—General，（andbetweenwhomandMr。Webbtherewasnolovelost），accompaniedtheconvoy，andjoinedMr。Webbwithacoupleofhundredhorsejustasthebattlewasover，andtheenemyinfullretreat。Heoffered，readilyenough，tochargewithhishorseupontheFrenchastheyfellback;buthisforcewastooweaktoinflictanydamageuponthem;andMr。Webb，commandingasCadogan'ssenior，thoughtenoughwasdoneinholdingourgroundbeforeanenemythatmightstillhaveoverwhelmedushadweengagedhimintheopenterritory，andinsecuringthesafepassageoftheconvoy。Accordingly，thehorsebroughtupbyCadogandidnotdrawasword;andonlyprevented，bythegoodcountenancetheyshowed，anydispositiontheFrenchmighthavehadtorenewtheattackonus。Andnoattackcoming，atnightfallGeneralCadogandrewoffwithhissquadron，beingboundforhead—quarters，thetwoGeneralsatpartinggrimlysalutingeachother。
"HewillbeatRoncqtimeenoughtolickmyLordDuke'strenchersatsupper，"saysMr。Webb。
OurownmenlayoutinthewoodsofWynendaelthatnight，andourGeneralhadhissupperinthelittlecastlethere。
"IfIwasCadogan，Iwouldhaveapeerageforthisday'swork，"
GeneralWebbsaid;"and，Harry，thoushouldsthavearegiment。
Thouhastbeenreportedinthelasttwoactions:thouwertnearkilledinthefirst。IshallmentiontheeinmydespatchtohisGracetheCommander—in—Chief，andrecommendtheetopoorDickHarwood'svacantmajority。HaveyoueverahundredguineastogiveCardonnel？Slipthemintohishandto—morrow，whenyougotohead—
quarterswithmyreport。"
InthisreporttheMajor—GeneralwasgoodenoughtomentionCaptainEsmond'snamewithparticularfavor;andthatgentlemancarriedthedespatchtohead—quartersthenextday，andwasnotalittlepleasedtobringbackaletterbyhisGrace'ssecretary，addressedtoLieutenant—GeneralWebb。TheDutchofficerdespatchedbyCountNassauWoudenbourg，Vaelt—MareschalAuverquerque'sson，broughtbackalsoacomplimentarylettertohiscommander，whohadsecondedMr。Webbintheactionwithgreatvalorandskill。
Esmond，withalowbowandasmilingface，presentedhisdespatch，andsalutedMr。WebbasLieutenant—General，ashegaveitin。Thegentlemenroundabouthim——hewasridingwithhissuiteontheroadtoMeninasEsmondcameupwithhim——gaveacheer，andhethankedthem，andopenedthedespatchwithratheraflushed，eagerface。
Heslappeditdownonhisbootinarageafterhehadreadit。
"'Tisnotevenwritwithhisownhand。Readitout，Esmond。"AndEsmondreaditout:——
"SIR，——Mr。Cadoganisjustnowcomein，andhasacquaintedmewiththesuccessoftheactionyouhadyesterdayintheafternoonagainstthebodyoftroopscommandedbyM。delaMothe，atWynendael，whichmustbeattributedchieflytoyourgoodconductandresolution。YoumaybesureIshalldoyoujusticeathome，andbegladonalloccasionstoowntheserviceyouhavedoneinsecuringthisconvoy。——Yours，&c。，M。"
"Twolinesbythatd——dCardonnel，andnomore，forthetakingofLille——forbeatingfivetimesournumber——foranactionasbrilliantasthebestheeverfought，"sayspoorMr。Webb。
"Lieutenant—General！That'snothisdoing。Iwastheoldestmajor—general。By————，IbelievehehadbeenbetterpleasedifI
hadbeenbeat。"
ThelettertotheDutchofficerwasinFrench，andlongerandmorecomplimentarythanthattoMr。Webb。
"Andthisistheman，"hebrokeout，"that'sgorgedwithgold——
that'scoveredwithtitlesandhonorsthatwewonforhim——andthatgrudgesevenalineofpraisetoacomradeinarms！Hasn'theenough？Don'twefightthathemayrollinriches？Well，well，waitfortheGazette，gentlemen。TheQueenandthecountrywilldousjusticeifhisGracedeniesitus。"Thereweretearsofrageinthebravewarrior'seyesashespoke;andhedashedthemoffhisfaceontohisglove。Heshookhisfistintheair。"Oh，bytheLord！"sayshe，"IknowwhatIhadratherhavethanapeerage！"
"Andwhatisthat，sir？"someofthemasked。
"IhadratherhaveaquarterofanhourwithJohnChurchill，onafairgreenfield，andonlyapairofrapiersbetweenmyshirtandhis——"
"Sir！"interposesone。
"Tellhimso！Iknowthat'swhatyoumean。Iknoweverywordgoestohimthat'sdroppedfromeverygeneralofficer'smouth。Idon'tsayhe'snotbrave。Cursehim！he'sbraveenough;butwe'llwaitfortheGazette，gentlemen。GodsaveherMajesty！she'lldousjustice。"
TheGazettedidnotcometoustillamonthafterwards;whenmyGeneralandhisofficershadthehonortodinewithPrinceEugeneinLille;hisHighnessbeinggoodenoughtosaythatwehadbroughttheprovisions，andoughttoshareinthebanquet。'Twasagreatbanquet。HisGraceofMarlboroughwasonhisHighness'sright，andonhislefttheMareschaldeBoufflers，whohadsobravelydefendedtheplace。Thechiefofficersofeitherarmywerepresent;andyoumaybesureEsmond'sGeneralwassplendidthisday:histallnobleperson，andmanlybeautyofface，madehimremarkableanywhere;hewore，forthefirsttime，thestaroftheOrderofGenerosity，thathisPrussianMajestyhadsenttohimforhisvictory。HisHighnessthePrinceofSavoycalledatoasttotheconquerorofWynendael。
MyLordDukedrankitwithratherasicklysmile。Theaides—de—
campwerepresent:andHarryEsmondandhisdearyounglordweretogether，astheyalwaysstrovetobewhendutywouldpermit:theywereoveragainstthetablewherethegeneralswere，andcouldseeallthatpassedprettywell。FranklaughedatmyLordDuke'sglumface:theaffairofWynendael，andtheCaptain—General'sconducttoWebb，hadbeenthetalkofthewholearmy。WhenhisHighnessspoke，andgave——"LevainqueurdeWynendael;sonarmeeetsavictoire，"adding，"quinousfontdineraLilleaujourd'huy"——therewasagreatcheerthroughthehall;forMr。Webb'sbravery，generosity，andveryweaknessesofcharactercausedhimtobebelovedinthearmy。
"LikeHector，handsome，andlikeParis，brave！"whispersFrankCastlewood。"AVenus，anelderlyVenus，couldn'trefusehimapippin。Standup，Harry。See，wearedrinkingthearmyofWynendael。Ramilliesisnothingtoit。Huzzay！huzzay！"
Atthisverytime，andjustafterourGeneralhadmadehisacknowledgment，someonebroughtinanEnglishGazette——andwaspassingitfromhandtohanddownthetable。Officerswereeagerenoughtoreadit;mothersandsistersathomemusthavesickenedoverit。TherescarcecameoutaGazetteforsixyearsthatdidnottellofsomeheroicdeathorsomebrilliantachievement。
"Hereitis——ActionofWynendael——hereyouare，General，"saysFrank，seizingholdofthelittledingypaperthatsoldierslovetoreadso;and，scramblingoverfromourbench，hewenttowheretheGeneralsat，whoknewhim，andhadseenmanyatimeathistablehislaughing，handsomeface，whicheverybodylovedwhosaw。Thegeneralsintheirgreatperukesmadewayforhim。HehandedthepaperoverGeneralDohna'sbuff—coattoourGeneralontheoppositeside。
Hecamehobblingback，andblushingathisfeat:"Ithoughthe'dlikeit，Harry，"theyoungfellowwhispered。"Didn'tIliketoreadmynameafterRamillies，intheLondonGazette？——ViscountCastlewoodservingavolunteer——Isay，what'syonder？"
Mr。Webb，readingtheGazette，lookedverystrange——slappeditdownonthetable——thensprangupinhisplace，andbeganto——"WillyourHighnesspleaseto——"
HisGracetheDukeofMarlboroughherejumpeduptoo——"There'ssomemistake，mydearGeneralWebb。"
"YourGracehadbetterrectifyit，"saysMr。Webb，holdingouttheletter;buthewasfiveoffhisGracethePrinceDuke，who，besides，washigherthantheGeneral（beingseatedwiththePrinceofSavoy，theElectoralPrinceofHanover，andtheenvoysofPrussiaandDenmark，underabaldaquin），andWebbcouldnotreachhim，tallashewas。
"Stay，"sayshe，withasmile，asifcatchingatsomeidea，andthen，withaperfectcourtesy，drawinghissword，herantheGazettethroughwiththepoint，andsaid，"PermitmetohandittoyourGrace。"
TheDukelookedveryblack。"Takeit，"sayshe，tohisMasteroftheHorse，whowaswaitingbehindhim。
TheLieutenant—Generalmadeaverylowbow，andretiredandfinishedhisglass。TheGazetteinwhichMr。Cardonnel，theDuke'ssecretary，gaveanaccountofthevictoryofWynendael，mentionedMr。Webb'sname，butgavethesolepraiseandconductoftheactiontotheDuke'sfavorite，Mr。Cadogan。
TherewasnolittletalkandexcitementoccasionedbythisstrangebehaviorofGeneralWebb，whohadalmostdrawnaswordupontheCommander—in—Chief;buttheGeneral，afterthefirstoutbreakofhisanger，mastereditoutwardlyaltogether;and，byhissubsequentbehavior，hadthesatisfactionofevenmoreangeringtheCommander—
in—Chief，thanhecouldhavedonebyanypublicexhibitionofresentment。
Onreturningtohisquarters，andconsultingwithhischiefadviser，Mr。Esmond，whowasnowentirelyintheGeneral'sconfidence，andtreatedbyhimasafriend，andalmostason，Mr。
WebbwritalettertohisGracetheCommander—in—Chief，inwhichhesaid:——
"YourGracemustbeawarethatthesuddenperusaloftheLondonGazette，inwhichyourGrace'ssecretary，Mr。Cardonnel，hathmentionedMajor—GeneralCadogan'snameastheofficercommandinginthelateactionofWynendael，musthavecausedafeelingofanythingbutpleasuretotheGeneralwhofoughtthataction。
"YourGracemustbeawarethatMr。Cadoganwasnotevenpresentatthebattle，thoughhearrivedwithsquadronsofhorseatitsclose，andputhimselfunderthecommandofhissuperiorofficer。AndastheresultofthebattleofWynendael，inwhichLieutenant—GeneralWebbhadthegoodfortunetocommand，wasthecaptureofLille，thereliefofBrussels，theninvestedbytheenemyundertheElectorofBavaria，therestorationofthegreatcitiesofGhentandBruges，ofwhichtheenemy（bytreasonwithinthewalls）hadgotpossessioninthepreviousyear，Mr。Webbcannotconsenttoforegothehonorsofsuchasuccessandservice，forthebenefitofMr。Cadogan，oranyotherperson。
"Assoonasthemilitaryoperationsoftheyearareover，Lieutenant—GeneralWebbwillrequestpermissiontoleavethearmy，andreturntohisplaceinParliament，wherehegivesnoticetohisGracetheCommander—inChief，thatheshalllayhiscasebeforetheHouseofCommons，thecountry，andherMajestytheQueen。
"ByhiseagernesstorectifythatfalsestatementoftheGazette，whichhadbeenwrittenbyhisGrace'ssecretary，Mr。Cardonnel，Mr。
Webb，notbeingabletoreachhisGracetheCommander—in—Chiefonaccountofthegentlemenseatedbetweenthem，placedthepapercontainingthefalsestatementonhissword，sothatitmightmorereadilyarriveinthehandsofhisGracetheDukeofMarlborough，whosurelywouldwishtodojusticetoeveryofficerofhisarmy。
"Mr。Webbknowshisdutytoowelltothinkofinsubordinationtohissuperiorofficer，orofusinghisswordinacampaignagainstanybuttheenemiesofherMajesty。HesolicitspermissiontoreturntoEnglandimmediatelythemilitarydutieswillpermit，andtakewithhimtoEnglandCaptainEsmond，ofhisregiment，whoactedashisaide—de—camp，andwaspresentduringtheentireaction，andnotedbyhiswatchthetimewhenMr。Cadoganarrivedatitsclose。"
TheCommander—in—Chiefcouldnotbutgrantthispermission，norcouldhetakenoticeofWebb'sletter，thoughitwascouchedintermsthemostinsulting。HalfthearmybelievedthatthecitiesofGhentandBrugesweregivenupbyatreason，whichsomeinourarmyverywellunderstood;thattheCommander—in—ChiefwouldnothaverelievedLilleifhecouldhavehelpedhimself;thathewouldnothavefoughtthatyearhadnotthePrinceofSavoyforcedhim。
Whenthebattleoncebegan，then，forhisownrenown，myLordMarlboroughwouldfightasnomanintheworldeverfoughtbetter;
andnobribeonearthcouldkeephimfrombeatingtheenemy。*
*OurGrandfather'shatredoftheDukeofMarlboroughappearsallthroughhisaccountofthesecampaigns。HealwayspersistedthattheDukewasthegreatesttraitorandsoldierhistoryevertoldof:
anddeclaredthathetookbribesonallhandsduringthewar。MyLordMarquis（forsowemaycallhimhere，thoughheneverwentbyanyothernamethanColonelEsmond）wasinthehabitoftellingmanystorieswhichhedidnotsetdowninhismemoirs，andwhichhehadfromhisfriendtheJesuit，whowasnotalwayscorrectlyinformed，andwhopersistedthatMarlboroughwaslookingforabribeoftwomillionsofcrownsbeforethecampaignofRamillies。
AndourGrandmotherusedtotelluschildren，thatonhisfirstpresentationtomyLordduke，theDuketurnedhisbackuponmyGrandfather;andsaidtotheDuchess，whotoldmyladydowageratChelsey，whoafterwardstoldColonelEsmond——"TomEsmond'sbastardhasbeentomylevee:hehasthehang—doglookofhisrogueofafather"——anexpressionwhichmyGrandfatherneverforgave。Hewasasconstantinhisdislikesasinhisattachments;andexceedinglypartialtoWebb，whosesidehetookagainstthemorecelebratedgeneral。WehaveGeneralWebb'sportraitnowatCastlewood，Va。
Butthematterwastakenupbythesubordinates;andhalfthearmymighthavebeenbytheears，ifthequarrelhadnotbeenstopped。
GeneralCadogansentanintimationtoGeneralWebbtosaythathewasreadyifWebbliked，andwouldmeethim。Thiswasakindofinvitationourstoutoldgeneralwasalwaystooreadytoaccept，and'twaswithgreatdifficultywegottheGeneraltoreplythathehadnoquarrelwithMr。Cadogan，whohadbehavedwithperfectgallantry，butonlywiththoseathead—quarters，whohadbeliedhim。Mr。CardonnelofferedGeneralWebbreparation;Mr。WebbsaidhehadacaneattheserviceofMr。Cardonnel，andtheonlysatisfactionhewantedfromhimwasonehewasnotlikelytoget，namely，thetruth。TheofficersinourstaffofWebb's，andthoseintheimmediatesuiteoftheGeneral，werereadytocometoblows;
andhencearosetheonlyaffairinwhichMr。Esmondeverengagedasprincipal，andthatwasfromarevengefulwishtowipeoffanoldinjury。
MyLordMohun，whohadatroopinLordMacclesfield'sregimentoftheHorseGuards，rodethiscampaignwiththeDuke。Hehadsunkbythistimetotheveryworstreputation;hehadhadanotherfatalduelinSpain;hehadmarried，andforsakenhiswife;hewasagambler，aprofligate，anddebauchee。HejoinedjustbeforeOudenarde;and，asEsmondfeared，assoonasFrankCastlewoodheardofhisarrival，Frankwasforseekinghimout，andkillinghim。
ThewoundmylordgotatOudenardepreventedtheirmeeting，butthatwasnearlyhealed，andMr。Esmondtrembleddailylestanychanceshouldbringhisboyandthisknownassassintogether。Theymetatthemess—tableofHandyside'sregimentatLille;theofficercommandingnotknowingofthefeudbetweenthetwonoblemen。
EsmondhadnotseenthehatefulhandsomefaceofMohunfornineyears，sincetheyhadmetonthatfatalnightinLeicesterField。
Itwasdegradedwithcrimeandpassionnow;itworetheanxiouslookofamanwhohasthreedeaths，andwhoknowshowmanyhiddenshames，andlusts，andcrimesonhisconscience。Hebowedwithasicklylowbow，andslunkawaywhenourhostpresentedusroundtooneanother。FrankCastlewoodhadnotknownhimtillthen，sochangedwashe。Heknewtheboywellenough。
'Twascurioustolookatthetwo——especiallytheyoungman，whosefaceflushedupwhenheheardthehatednameoftheother;andwhosaidinhisbadFrenchandhisbraveboyishvoice——"HehadlongbeenanxioustomeetmyLordMohun。"Theotheronlybowed，andmovedawayfromhim。Idohimjustice，hewishedtohavenoquarrelwiththelad。
Esmondputhimselfbetweenthemattable。"D———it，"saysFrank，"whydoyouputyourselfintheplaceofamanwhoisaboveyouindegree？MyLordMohunshouldwalkafterme。IwanttositbymyLordMohun。"
EsmondwhisperedtoLordMohun，thatFrankwashurtinthelegatOudenarde;andbesoughttheothertobequiet。Quietenoughhewasforsometime;disregardingthemanytauntswhichyoungCastlewoodflungathim，untilafterseveralhealths，whenmyLordMohungottoberatherinliquor。
"Willyougoaway，mylord？"Mr。Esmondsaidtohim，imploringhimtoquitthetable。
"No，byG——，"saysmyLordMohun。"I'llnotgoawayforanyman;"
hewasquiteflushedwithwinebythistime。
Thetalkgotroundtotheaffairsofyesterday。WebbhadofferedtochallengetheCommander—in—Chief:Webbhadbeenill—used:Webbwasthebravest，handsomest，vainestmaninthearmy。LordMohundidnotknowthatEsmondwasWebb'saide—de—camp。HebegantotellsomestoriesagainsttheGeneral;which，fromt'othersideofEsmond，youngCastlewoodcontradicted。
"Ican'tbearanymoreofthis，"saysmyLordMohun。
"NorcanI，mylord，"saysMr。Esmond，startingup。"ThestorymyLordMohunhastoldrespectingGeneralWebbisfalse，gentlemen——
false，Irepeat，"andmakingalowbowtoLordMohun，andwithoutasinglewordmore，Esmondgotupandleftthedining—room。Theseaffairswerecommonenoughamongthemilitaryofthosedays。Therewasagardenbehindthehouse，andallthepartyturnedinstantlyintoit;andthetwogentlemen'scoatswereoffandtheirpointsengagedwithintwominutesafterEsmond'swordshadbeenspoken。
IfCaptainEsmondhadputMohunoutoftheworld，ashemight，avillainwouldhavebeenpunishedandsparedfurthervillanies——butwhoisonemantopunishanother？IdeclareuponmyhonorthatmyonlythoughtwastopreventLordMohunfrommischiefwithFrank，andtheendofthismeetingwas，thatafterhalfadozenpassesmylordwenthomewithahurtwhichpreventedhimfromliftinghisrightarmforthreemonths。
"Oh，Harry！whydidn'tyoukillthevillain？"youngCastlewoodasked。"Ican'twalkwithoutacrutch:butIcouldhavemethimonhorsebackwithswordandpistol。"ButHarryEsmondsaid，"'Twasbesttohavenoman'slifeonone'sconscience，noteventhatvillain's。"Andthisaffair，whichdidnotoccupythreeminutes，beingover，thegentlemenwentbacktotheirwine，andmyLordMohuntohisquarters，wherehewaslaidupwithafeverwhichhadsparedmischiefhaditprovedfatal。AndverysoonafterthisaffairHarryEsmondandhisGeneralleftthecampforLondon;
whitheracertainreputationhadprecededtheCaptain，formyLadyCastlewoodofChelseyreceivedhimasifhehadbeenaconqueringhero。ShegaveagreatdinnertoMr。Webb，wheretheGeneral'schairwascrownedwithlaurels;andherladyshipcalledEsmond'shealthinatoast，towhichmykindGeneralwasgraciouslypleasedtobearthestrongesttestimony:andtookdownamobofatleastfortycoachestocheerourGeneralashecameoutoftheHouseofCommons，thedaywhenhereceivedthethanksofParliamentforhisaction。Themobhuzza'dandapplaudedhim，aswellasthefinecompany:itwassplendidtoseehimwavinghishat，andbowing，andlayinghishanduponhisOrderofGenerosity。HeintroducedMr。
EsmondtoMr。St。JohnandtheRightHonorableRobertHarley，Esquire，ashecameoutoftheHousewalkingbetweenthem;andwaspleasedtomakemanyflatteringobservationsregardingMr。Esmond'sbehaviorduringthethreelastcampaigns。
Mr。St。John（whohadthemostwinningpresenceofanymanIeversaw，exceptingalwaysmypeerlessyoungFrankCastlewood）saidhehadheardofMr。EsmondbeforefromCaptainSteele，andhowhehadhelpedMr。Addisontowritehisfamouspoemofthe"Campaign。"
"'TwasasgreatanachievementasthevictoryofBlenheimitself，"
Mr。Harleysaid，whowasfamousasajudgeandpatronofletters，andso，perhaps，itmaybe——thoughformypartIthinktherearetwentybeautifullines，butalltherestiscommonplace，andMr。
Addison'shymnworthathousandsuchpoems。
AllthetownwasindignantatmyLordDuke'sunjusttreatmentofGeneralWebb，andapplaudedthevoteofthankswhichtheHouseofCommonsgavetotheGeneralforhisvictoryatWynendael。'TiscertainthatthecaptureofLillewastheconsequenceofthatluckyachievement，andthehumiliationoftheoldFrenchKing，whowassaidtosuffermoreatthelossofthisgreatcity，thanfromanyoftheformervictoriesourtroopshadwonoverhim。And，Ithink，nosmallpartofMr。Webb'sexultationathisvictoryarosefromtheideathatMarlboroughhadbeendisappointedofagreatbribetheFrenchKinghadpromisedhim，shouldthesiegeberaised。TheverysumofmoneyofferedtohimwasmentionedbytheDuke'senemies;andhonestMr。Webbchuckledatthenotion，notonlyofbeatingtheFrench，butofbeatingMarlboroughtoo，andinterceptingaconvoyofthreemillionsofFrenchcrowns，thatwereontheirwaytotheGeneralissimo'sinsatiablepockets。WhentheGeneral'sladywenttotheQueen'sdrawing—room，alltheTorywomencrowdedroundherwithcongratulations，andmadeheratraingreaterthantheDuchessofMarlborough'sown。FeastsweregiventotheGeneralbyallthechiefsoftheToryparty，whovauntedhimastheDuke'sequalinmilitaryskill;andperhapsusedtheworthysoldierastheirinstrument，whilsthethoughttheywerebutacknowledginghismeritsasacommander。AstheGeneral'saide—de—
campandfavoriteofficer，Mr。Esmondcameinforashareofhischief'spopularity，andwaspresentedtoherMajesty，andadvancedtotherankofLieutenant—Colonel，attherequestofhisgratefulchief。
WemaybesuretherewasonefamilyinwhichanygoodfortunethathappenedtoEsmondcausedsuchasincereprideandpleasure，thathe，forhispart，wasthankfulhecouldmakethemsohappy。Withthesefondfriends，BlenheimandOudenardeseemedtobemeretriflingincidentsofthewar;andWynendaelwasitscrowningvictory。Esmond'smistressnevertiredtohearaccountsofthebattle;andIthinkGeneralWebb'sladygrewjealousofher，fortheGeneralwasforeveratKensington，andtalkingonthatdelightfultheme。Asforhisaide—de—camp，though，nodoubt，Esmond'sownnaturalvanitywaspleasedatthelittleshareofreputationwhichhisgoodfortunehadwonhim，yetitwaschieflyprecioustohim（hemaysayso，nowthathehathlongsinceoutlivedit，）becauseitpleasedhismistress，and，aboveall，becauseBeatrixvaluedit。
AsfortheoldDowagerofChelsey，neverwasanoldwomaninallEnglandmoredelightednormoregraciousthanshe。Esmondhadhisquartersinherladyship'shouse，wherethedomesticswereinstructedtoconsiderhimastheirmaster。Shebadehimgiveentertainments，ofwhichshedefrayedthecharges，andwascharmedwhenhisguestswerecarriedawaytipsyintheircoaches。Shemusthavehispicturetaken;andaccordinglyhewaspaintedbyMr。