left with Peterborough.

"I would place you on your parole with pleasure," the duke said, "but I
tell you frankly that in the present excited state of public feeling
I do not think it will be safe for you to move through the streets
unprotected. So many of our officers have been murdered in Saragossa
and other places that the lower class of Spaniards would think it a
meritorious action to take vengeance on an English officer. Of course I
am well aware that the English have nothing to do with these atrocities,
but the people in general are not able to draw nice distinctions. I
shall send you to France on the first opportunity, to remain there till
exchanged."

"Thank you, sir," Jack said; "I should prefer not being put on my
parole, for I shall certainly escape if I have the opportunity. I should
tell you, sir, that I have ridden through Arragon, and though I do not
wish to excuse the murders perpetrated by the Spaniards, I must tell
you that I cannot blame them; for, horrible as are their deeds, they are
simply acts of retaliation for the abominable atrocities which
Marshal Tesse allows and encourages his troops to perpetrate upon the
population. I have the highest respect, sir, for the French nation,
but if I were the Earl of Peterborough, and Marshal Tesse fell into my
hands, I would hand him over to the Spaniards to be torn in pieces as he
deserves."

"You speak boldly, sir," the duke said sternly.

"I feel what I say, sir," Jack replied. "I think it well that you,
a general high in command under the French king, should know the
atrocities perpetrated in his name by this man upon defenseless people.
I could tell you, sir, a score of stories which I heard in Arragon,
although I was but two days there, of massacre and murder which would
make your blood run cold. I confess that personally I have no greater
interest in King Charles than in King Philip. I have seen so much of
the Austrian and his advisers that I believe that if the Earl of
Peterborough were to seat him on his throne here tomorrow, he would be
driven from the country a fugitive before many weeks were over; but in
the same way I am convinced that Philip of Anjou will never be accepted
by the Spanish as their king if his cause be stained by such atrocities
as those carried out by Marshal Tesse in his name."

The duke then asked Jack if he had any objections to state the
particular object for which he was sent into Arragon by his general; and
Jack was