for every service. He has indeed carried on the war largely on his
own resources, which has been of no slight advantage to us, seeing
that our exchequer is but too often strained to meet demands from
other quarters. If he succeeds in this enterprise, you must write
in our name and bid him come hither to receive our thanks in
person, and to rest for a while from his labours in our service.

"You have changed somewhat, Monsieur de Villar, since we last saw
you. The ladies of the court called you then the little colonel
-- not because of your size, for you already overtopped the greater
portion of our courtiers, but from your age. Now you look all over
a soldier, and a weatherbeaten one."

Hector had indeed aged during the past two years. He was now nearly
two-and-twenty, his moustache had grown, and, as was the custom
of the time, he wore a small imperial. The habit of command had
given to his face an expression of decision and resolution unusual
at his age, and a life spent in the open air, and for the most part
sleeping without cover, had bronzed his skin, and had counteracted
the youthful appearance caused by his fair complexion.

"'Tis but some three months since we heard of you as a prisoner,
having been captured while with your regiment covering the retreat
after the unfortunate battle of Marienthal. The cardinal told me
that he had written to the field marshal to try and arrange an
exchange for you if possible. We had not heard that he had done so
when the Duc d'Enghien's report of the battle of Nordlingen spoke
of you as doing good service with your regiment there. I suppose
Turenne, in the press of business, omitted to say that you had been
exchanged."