of speed, but do not founder your horse. Every day is of value
to me, and if I am once well on my way north Mazarin could hardly
recall me.

"Say that you take five days to get to Paris, by that time I should be
north of Cologne, and a courier from Mazarin can hardly overtake
me until I am in Holland, I should then feel justified in disregarding
the order, seeing that I should by pushing on effect a junction
with the Swedes quite as quickly as I could return here. Of course
it would be too late for you to overtake me, and I shall give you
a written order to remain in Paris until I am again so near the
Rhine that you can join your regiment. I consider that it will be
an advantage to have you near the cardinal, as, knowing my intentions
and methods as you do, you would be able to so explain matters to
him that he will understand the reasons for my various movements."

"Very well marshal, I am ready to start as soon as you hand me the
despatch."

"I will do that tomorrow morning, and you will then be able to tell
Mazarin that we were just setting out when you left us."

"As it will be some time before I shall rejoin my regiment, may
I ask you to appoint Captain de Thiou as second colonel? He has
now served as senior captain of the regiment for three years. He
aided me heartily and cordially in organizing it. He has seconded
me throughout in a manner of which I cannot speak too highly, and
distinguished himself greatly at Freiburg, and on every occasion
in which we have been in contact with the enemy. I think it very
desirable that there should be an officer of rank superior to the