ians. If Prince Charles crossed the water
now with a French army, he would never be king; his own friends would
fight against him. He must wait awhile till his people have recovered
their senses, then they will beg him to return."

"By the way," said I, "you have not told me yet how you won your
commission."

"A lucky accident; a mere trifle; what you call a bagatelle."

"Have you not heard?" inquired Raoul. "I must relate the story myself,
as our friend here is as modest as brave. The affair occurred at
Montrond, and the whole camp talked of it."

"Things were very dull just then," interrupted Humphreys.

"We were besieging the town," continued Raoul, "and one night the enemy
made a sortie. It took us by surprise; our outposts were rushed, a
dozen officers fell, and the troops were panic-stricken. General
Pallnau was with the Court, and the next in command lost his head. As
it chanced our friend was staying with me that night, and he stopped
the rout."

"No, no," said the Englishman, with a smile; "he is making too much of
it altogether."

"He saved the army at least. My quarters happened to be on a hill.
Conde's troops were pouring towards it; half our men had scattered, and
the others were wavering, when Humphreys sprang to the front, calling
us to rally. A few of us ran up, and only just in time. The enemy,
perceiving we held the key to the position, swarmed to the attack. We,
knowing how much depended on every minute's delay, stood our ground.
Once we rolled them back, but they came again. Our men fell fast, but
Humphreys was a host in himself, and through him we held on till the
runaways had time to re-form. Every one declared he had saved the
army, and he received his commission on the field."

"And the credit was as much Raoul's as mine," said Humphreys, "but
things go like that in this world. I suppose, now that Mazarin's
troops have reinforced us, we shall march south and fight Conde."

"It is possible, though there is a whisper that we are to move on
Angers. I wish we three could keep together."

"It would be splendid," said Raoul, "but we must make the most of our
opportunities," which, as long as the army remained in the
neighbourhood of Poitiers, we did.

Very soon, however, we advanced on Angers, and having captured that
town removed to Saumur. Here we were joined by Marshal Turenne, and
being too weak to reduce the important town of Orleans proceeded to
Gien. Raoul was quar