“No doubt, Campbell; but you see the other reconnaissances did not lead to any results, while this did.  My dear lad, it is by results that men are judged.  That you, a young officer on Enghien’s staff, should unbidden, and, as you say, as a matter of duty, have undertaken such a business, shows how thoroughly you have profited by your teaching under Turenne; and as such you deserve what you have gained, though I do not say that you would have obtained your desserts had not your reconnaissance saved Enghien from defeat.  Now I will take you to Madame de Chevreuse again.  She beckoned to me after you entered the audience chamber, and told me to bring you up again when you came out, as she and the Duchesse de Longueville had taken a great fancy to you.  Now, my dear boy, your position is changed.  You have become a French noble, and, however unwilling, may find yourself mixed up on one side or the other with the doings of your court.  Both these ladies have power, and it is well to keep in with them, for either of them might prove a valuable friend and protector, and the first rule here is make as many friends as possible, for no one can say when you may require them.”

Hector again followed the colonel to the group of ladies.

“Madame,” Maclvor said, “I have the honour to present you —­ "

“Why, have you not presented him to us already?” Madame de Chevreuse said with a laugh.  “Your memory must be singularly short, colonel.”

“My memory is not short, madame, but it is a somewhat different personage that I have now to present to you.  Madame, I have the honour to present Colonel Campbell, Baron de la Villar.”

Both ladies uttered an exclamation of surprise.

“Why, what has he done, colonel?” the duchess exclaimed.  “It must have been some remarkable action, surely, for him to be made colonel by my brother and Baron de la Villar by the queen.”

“In the opinion of the Duc d’Enghien and General Gassion, duchess, he performed a service that to a large extent brought about the victory of Rocroi.  My young friend is at present not beyond the age of modesty, and therefore if you will allow me I will state the circumstances.  Under General de Turenne he was in the habit of constantly visiting the posts at night with the viscount or alone, and endeavouring to discover the position and intentions of the enemy.  The night before the battle he started voluntarily to perform the same duties, and, accompanied only by his servant, he crept into a wood that lay between the two armies and there discovered a thousand musketeers who were lying in ambush.  He reported the discovery to General Gassion, who on his part informed the duke of this most important intelligence, for it was evident that, had the ambuscade been unsuspected, they would have taken the cavalry in the rear at the critical moment of the battle, and would have opened so heavy a fire that even the bravest of cavalry, thus surprised