“You will wonder why I am speaking thus to you, Colonel Campbell, but it is of the greatest necessity that her majesty should know upon whom she can rely absolutely in case of trouble.  You, sir, being altogether unconnected with any of the great families of France, stand in a different position from that of the great majority of officers of your rank.  Look where I will, I see our regiments officered by men connected by birth and family with one or other of the men who are at present intriguing against us, and were they ordered to take steps to arrest, for example, one of those persons connected with them, they might, without openly refusing, give such warning to them that they would be able to escape.  Now, sir, I ask you to tell me frankly whether, under all contingencies, the queen can rely upon your services?  I give you my word that whatever your reply is, it shall in no way count against you.  There are cases in which it would doubtless be painful to you to carry out such an order.  You are a protege of Monsieur de Turenne.  Monsieur de Turenne is brother of the Duc de Bouillon, and, as I know, you yourself were staying for some months in the castle of Sedan, where you went to be cured of your wounds.  Now, monsieur, frankly, were you ordered to arrest the Duc de Bouillon, would you carry it out without fear or favour?”

“Certainly I would, your excellency; and should you give such an order to Marshal Turenne he would do so himself.  He is a soldier of the queen before all things, and has taught me that my duty is towards the sovereign who represents France, regardless of all other considerations.”

The cardinal while speaking had watched the young soldier’s face scrutinizingly.  Faithful as Turenne had always been to the crown, even when his brother was in arms against it, Mazarin had still in his heart some doubts as to his fidelity under all circumstances.  He could not but be conscious that faith had been absolutely broken with Bouillon, and, accustomed to tortuous ways, he could scarce imagine that Turenne would hold himself altogether above family interest.  He saw by the manner more than the words of Hector that he was speaking from a profound conviction.  In asking him the question, he had been thinking more of Turenne’s loyalty than of the young colonel’s.  Having been four years in the closest connection with the marshal, he could not but know his real sentiments, and he felt sure that had Turenne expressed any anger at the treatment his brother had received, he would have seen it in the young man’s face.  The answer was a reassuring one.

“Thank you, monsieur le baron; the musketeers and the Swiss guards we know we can absolutely rely upon, and I shall be glad to be able to inform the queen that she can place implicit faith in your regiment.  I need not impress upon you the necessity for our conversation being regarded by you as absolutely confidential.”