The long weeks had passed as slowly to him as they had to the king, and he was very glad indeed when, on the 2nd of June, Frederick said to him: "I know that you are impatient for action, Major Drummond.

Your blood is younger than mine, and I feel it hard enough to be patient, myself.

However, I can find some employment for you.

Duke Ferdinand has now, you know, twelve thousand English troops with him.

He has written to me saying that, as neither of his aides-de-camp can speak English, he begs that I would send him an officer who can do so; for very few of the British are able to speak German, and serious consequences might arise from the misapprehension of orders on the day of battle.