“Next winter I shall have the fortifications strengthened.  I know that you are bound to furnish horses and carts for so many days in the year.  I shall want this work performed, but you will be paid both for your own work in building, and for your carts and horses; and as it will be done at a time when there is little farm work on hand, this will be a benefit to you, and the wages will be deducted from the payments that you have to make.”

Loud cheers rose from the men, who were overjoyed on learning that their new lord was inclined to deal so generously with them, and especially that the fine, which many of them would have found it impossible to pay, was to be altogether remitted.  Having completed all his arrangements Hector returned to Paris, mounting his men on four of the horses he found in the stables, and leaving at the castle two of those which Enghien had given him, and the two Paolo had caught on the field of battle.  He arrived on the evening of the day before his leave expired, put up at the auberge of the Pome d’Or, and early the next morning took his way to The Scottish Soldier.

CHAPTER XII:  THE POITOU REGIMENT

“Well, MacIntosh,” Hector said as he entered the cabaret, “have you made up your mind?  The castle is a strong one, and I mean to make it stronger.  The air is good and so is the wine, and I am sure that you will find the duties pleasant.

“If you go I think it would be as well that you should take a couple of your old comrades —­ you said there were many of them in Paris —­ with you, to act as your sergeants, drill the tenants, and see that all goes on in order.  It will be pleasant for you to have two of your old friends with whom you can talk over past times.”

“I had decided to accept your offer, Hector; but certainly this would have decided me had I not already made up my mind.  That was the one drawback, that I should be among strangers, but with two of my old friends I should not feel lonely.  There is Sholto Macfarlane, he was in my troop.  He lost a hand from his musket bursting three years ago, and now makes his living by helping the boatmen unload at the quays.  Then there is Kenneth Munroe.  He was invalided after a bad attack of fever in Flanders, and now teaches the broadsword exercise at a fencing master’s place at St. Denis.  They would both jump at the offer if they only got free lodgings and keep.”

“Then that is settled, MacIntosh.  I am heartily glad of it.  Now the sooner you get down there the better.”

“Well, I can go at once.  Sergeant Morrison is taking his discharge at the end of the week.  He is a married man with a helpful little wife.  I was telling him of the offer that you had made me, and he asked me what I would take for the cabaret.  It is a good business, and having a wife he could manage it better than I can.  I said that if he had a fancy for it I would rather that he took it than another; and he would do better than a Frenchman would, for the lads would not care for the place unless it was kept by one of the regiment.  He asked me what were the profits.  I told him.