"I have brought Monsieur de Villar to your majesty," he said as
he entered the queen's apartment. "He has just reached Paris with
despatches from the Viscount Turenne. He has only this instant
arrived, and I thought I might venture to bring him at once to
you."

"'Tis a long time since we have seen you, monsieur," the queen
said graciously, "but we have heard of you from the marshal's
despatches, and were glad to see that your regiment bore itself
as well in the field of battle as in the park of Versailles. What
news do you bring? Nothing of importance, I hope, for there can
hardly be good news when the marshal has so scanty a force with
which to guard the frontier."

"The Viscount de Turenne is too zealous in your service, madam,
to remain idle, however small his force. He started suddenly the
day I left with his cavalry and a small body of infantry to march
to Treves, with two or three regiments he has persuaded the
Duc d'Enghien to send him from Metz with some guns, and he hoped
to capture the city and clear the electorate of the enemy before
they can receive strong reinforcements, seeing that they are all
scattered in their winter quarters."

"A bold stroke indeed, cardinal," the queen said, much gratified.
"It has touched our honour that the elector should so long have
suffered for his fidelity to France; and, moreover, its possession
in his hands will relieve us of much anxiety and give us the
Moselle as a barrier against the incursions of the enemy in that
corner of our dominions. He is indefatigable, this good viscount,
cardinal; and he is not one of those who look for great rewards