rode on, sending every officer he overtook in search of the cavalry
with orders that they were to abandon the pursuit and return
instantly. That evening after they had entered Carignano he called
de Lisle and Chavigny into his room.

"Gentlemen," he said, "you will have to choose whether you remain
with me or join one of the cavalry regiments. If you remain with
me, you must bear in mind in future that you are my aides-de-camp,
and that your sole duty here is to carry my orders, and not to
fight like troopers in a battle. It is through hotheadedness of
this sort that battles are lost. A general, without officers to
carry his orders, can do nothing towards controlling the movements
of his troops in battle, of following up a victory or covering a
defeat."

The two young officers hung their heads and murmured their excuses.

"Enough, gentlemen," Turenne said. "I am perfectly aware that it
was your ardour that carried you away, but ardour is a bad leader.
Over and over again the ardour of cavalry to pursue the troops they
have defeated has brought about the loss of a battle. Courage is a
virtue, and most soldiers possess it, but steadiness and coolness
are rarer and more useful, and on the part of officers on a general's
staff are absolutely indispensable. I doubt not that you will
remember this in future, and that I shall not have reason to
complain of you again."

The next morning it was Hector's turn to be in attendance on the
general.