The dispatches from home by the Thunderbolt which we forwarded from here three weeks ago reached Lord Wellington only the day before yesterday." Sir Terence became instantly alert.
"Garfield, who carried them, came into collision at Penalva with an officer of Anson's Brigade.

There was a meeting, and Garfield was shot through the lung.

He lay between life and death for a fortnight, with the result that the dispatches were delayed until he recovered sufficiently to remember them and to have them forwarded by other hands.
But you had better see Stanhope himself." The aide-de-camp came in.

He was splashed from head to foot in witness of the fury with which he had ridden, his hair was caked with dust and his face haggard.

But he carried himself with soldierly uprightness, and his speech was brisk.