ou told me."

"You had something to do with the planning, too, Paolo. However, I
think that we may both feel well content with the rewards that we have
obtained for two days' work."

As Hector went out he met de Lisle and Chavigny.

"Well met!" the former exclaimed. "We have just left the general, and
he has told us what you have done, and that he has made you a captain
in consequence. We were just coming to look for you to carry you off to
supper in honour of your promotion."

"You deserve it, if anyone ever did, there is no doubt of that,"
Chavigny said heartily. "We are quite proud of our comrade."

"It seems absurd that I should be a captain."

"Not absurd at all," Chavigny said. "Turenne was a captain when he was a
year younger than you are, and there is many a noble who has been made a
colonel before he ever drew sword in battle."

Hector was much pleased at the evidently genuine congratulations of
his companions. He had indeed rather feared that they would take his
promotion ill; being nearly five years his senior, and having served in
two previous campaigns, they might well feel hurt at his being promoted
while they still remained only lieutenants. The young nobles indeed felt
no shade of jealousy. It was but of late that there had been a regular
army, for the nobles still brought their tenants and retainers to the
field and supported them at their own expense.

To de Lisle and Chavigny these grades of military rank were of no
account whatever. The rank of colonel would add in no way to their
position as members of noble families. They fought for honour, and
against the enemies of France. They were always addressed by their
family name, and would both have resented being called lieutenant.
They were proud of being Turenne's aides-de-camp, but had no thought of
remaining in the army after the war was over, as they would then resume
their place at court. They had both taken a strong liking to their young
comrade, whose manner of thought differed so widely from their own. They
appreciated the merits of the action of which their general had spoken
in such warm terms, and the fact that in point of military rank he was
now above them concerned them in no way. It was a merry supper at the
best hotel in Susa.

"You see now, de Lisle," Chavigny said, "the advantage of taking a
morning dip in snow water. Neither you nor I would have swum across
those moats, and remained all night long in our wet clothes, for a