few regiments to hold the newly acquired territory.

"Do you wish for leave, Campbell?" Turenne asked Hector. "You had
but a few days in your new lordship, and have a right to spend at
least a portion of the winter there."

"I thank you, marshal, but I have no idea of leaving you. You
have been good enough to say that you will fill up the gaps in my
regiment by embodying in it the remains of the regiment of Ardennes,
which will bring it up to nearly its former strength. I certainly
should not like to be away while the work of fusion is being carried
out. The new men must be divided equally among the companies, and
the officers so arranged that one of those now appointed shall be
attached to each company with two of my own. Then I must see that
all so work together as to arrive at the same standard as before.
I should have wished that if possible the captains of the Ardennes
regiment should be appointed to the new regiment that you are about
to form, and that the places of those who fell in action should
be filled from my list of lieutenants."

"Certainly. You lost five captains, did you not?"

"Yes, sir."

"If you send me the names of the five senior lieutenants, I will
promote them at once."

"Thank you, marshal; that will make all my lieutenants captains.
I lost five of them and three second lieutenants."