“I know very little about them at present, beyond the fact that I am bound by my feudal obligations to put fifty men in the field when called upon to do so.”

“Then it must be a place of good size,” the sergeant said.  “And you hold it direct from the crown?”

Hector nodded.

“That is good.  When you hold from one of the great lords, you never know whom you may be called upon to fight against —­ it may be the king, it may be his minister, it may be some other noble —­ while holding direct, you have only the king’s enemies to fight against.”

“Or rather, MacIntosh, the chief minister’s enemies; for, after all, when a king signs a proclamation, it is usually a minister’s signature that ought to be attached to it.”

“Well, well, Master Hector, it makes little difference to us Scots who it is that we fight for, it is no quarrel of ours.  We have taken service under the King of France; but when there are two parties, and each claims to be in favour of the king, we have simply to fight for whoever happens to have the king’s signature.  If they both have it, then it is the general who commands our division who gives us orders, and it matters nought to us whom he takes his orders from.”

“At any rate, MacIntosh, it is not for soldiers to inquire too deeply into these matters; if we did, we should have one half of the regiment firing into the other.”

“So we should, lad, so we should; therefore we soldiers do wisely in leaving the matter to our officers.  If the colonel says ‘Charge!’ we charge; if he says ‘Dismount and take to your musketoons!’ we do so, without troubling our heads as to whether it is Germans or Spaniards or Frenchmen whom we have to aim at.  Ah, here come your four men!”

As the four troopers entered the cabaret and saw who was speaking to MacIntosh they hesitated, and would have turned, but the sergeant called out, “Attention! salute!” and they stood as motionless as statues till Hector ordered them to stand easy.

“I have been talking about you men to Sergeant MacIntosh, who tells me that you have taken your discharge and the reason for your so doing.  I think that you acted hastily; however, that is your affair.  The matter that concerns me is this:  —­ I am appointed colonel of an infantry regiment and I want four good men as orderlies.  They will be mounted, and I shall see that they draw rations when there are any rations to be had; but they will be my troopers and not soldiers of the regiment.  I want good men, who can be relied upon in any emergency; they will ride behind me in battle, act as scouts if necessary, and they will receive double the pay of ordinary troopers.  In peacetime, or when the regiment is in winter quarters, I shall pass my time either in Paris or on my estate in Poitou, and they will of course accompany me.  I may tell you that I am now Baron de la Villar, but I should wish to be always addressed as Colonel Campbell.  I know you all of old, and that your only failing is somewhat too great a love for the wine flask; that must only be indulged in at times when you are not only off duty, but when there is no possibility of your services being required.  Now, what do you think, men; will my service suit you?”