"I am advised," resumed Pichegru, "that the army of the Moselle, commanded by Hoche, is about to join mine. This union accomplished, we shall attack Woerth, Froeschwiller and Reichsoffen. Well, I must know the number of men and cannon that defend these places as well as the best points of attack. You will be aided by the hatred that our peasants and the Alsatian bourgeois bear the Prussians." "Shall I bring you the information here? Will you wait for it, or will you start to meet the army of the Moselle?" "In three or four days you will probably hear firing in the direction of Marschwilier, Dawendorff, or Uberack; you may join me wherever I am." Just then the door opened and a young man, about twenty-five or six, wearing a colonel's uniform, entered. From his light hair and mustache, and ruddy complexion, it was plain to be seen that he was one of the many Irishmen who had taken service in France now that she was likely to go to war with England. "Ah! is it you, my dear Macdonald," said Pichegru, making a sign to the young man, "I was just going to send for you; here is one of your Scotch or English countrymen." "Neither the English nor the Scotch are my countrymen, general," said Macdonald. "I am Irish." "I beg your pardon, colonel," said Pichegru, laughing, "I did not mean to insult you, I only meant that he speaks nothing but English, and, as I do not know it very well, I want to know what he is saying." "Nothing is easier," replied Macdonald. Then, addressing the young man, he put several questions to him, to which the other replied without an instant's hesitation. "Has he told you what he wants?" asked Pichegru. "Yes," replied Macdonald; "he asks for a place in the commissary department." "Then," Pichegru said to the Pole, "that is all I wanted to know. Do what you have been told, and do not forget anything. If you will be good enough to translate what I have said to him, Macdonald, you will be doing me a great service." Macdonald repeated, word for word, in English, what the general had said. The pretended Englishman bowed and went out. "Well," asked Pichegru, "how does he speak English?" "Admirably," replied Macdonald; "he has a slight accent which makes me think that he comes rather from the provinces than from London or Dublin. Only one would have to be English or Irish to detect it." "That is all I wanted to know," said Pichegru, with a laugh. And he returned to the large room, followed by Macdonald. CHAPTER XX THE DYING MAN'S PROPHECY Most of the officers attached to Pichegru's staff were away on some special service or reconnoissance when Charles reached headquarters.