At eight o'clock the party broke up, and Hector walked across to
Turenne's quarters. The latter had just returned from a consultation
with the other generals.

"We shall open our trenches here tonight; the place is of some
importance, as it is on the direct road to Nordlingen, and it is
as well not to leave it behind us. This, however, we shall do, if
news comes that Merci is marching to give us battle before that
city, which we expect he will do. The Imperialists will like to
fight there, for it was the scene of their great victory over the
Duke of Weimar and the Swedes."

"We must hope that we shall reverse matters this time, marshal."

"We must hope so," the latter said gravely; "if we fight on a fair
field I have no misgivings whatever. But Merci always takes up
strong positions and entrenches himself, and Enghien is so anxious
to fight that he will do so at a disadvantage rather than wait
until we can meet them on even terms. You know what happened at
Freiburg, where we lost some nine thousand men and gained no great
advantage; while if we had moved round and threatened their line
of retreat the enemy must have fallen back at once, we should have
obtained our object without the loss of a man, and might possibly
have fallen upon Merci in his retreat, and well nigh annihilated
his army. Do not think, Campbell, that I am for a moment underestimating
Enghien's genius. It is extraordinary, and in the hour of battle
he is superb, not only from his extreme personal bravery, but
from the quickness with which he grasps every point, seizes upon
the spot where a blow can be best delivered, and snatches victory,
where another would see only defeat before him. But he is reckless