CHAPTER 9: Rejoining.
The adjutant general returned in two or three minutes.
"Will you please come this way, Colonel O'Connor," he said, as he re-entered the room; "the commander-in-chief wishes to speak to you." "I am glad to see you back, Colonel O'Connor," Lord Wellington said cordially, but in his usual quick, short manner; "the last time I saw you was at Salamende.

You did well at Talavera; and better still afterwards, when the information I received from you was the only trustworthy news obtained during the campaign, and was simply invaluable.

Sir John Craddock did me no better service than by recognizing your merits, and speaking so strongly to me in your favour that I retained you in command of the corps that you had raised.

I shall be glad to know that you are again at their head, when the campaign reopens; for I know that I can rely implicitly upon you for information.

Of course, your name has been removed from the list of my staff, since you were taken prisoner; but it shall appear in orders tomorrow again.