’’Undoubtedly that was a terrible blunder on his part,” the colonel said, “and he rather than Turenne is to blame.  And now, sir, may I ask how is it that you, who cannot be more than twenty, come to be a colonel, and in command of a regiment?”

“I have been five years an officer, and was fortunate on two occasions to obtain the approval, once of Monsieur de Turenne, and once of the Duc d’Enghien.”

“I congratulate you, sir.  It is seldom indeed that so young an officer has opportunities of distinguishing himself.  I myself had seen well nigh thirty years service before I came to command a regiment.  And now, sir, will you give me your parole not to attempt to escape?”

“Certainly, sir,” Hector replied promptly.  He knew that should he refuse four or five troopers would be set to watch him, and even if he evaded these, which was well nigh impossible, he might be recaptured on the following morning, as detachments of the Bavarian horse would be sure to be pressing hard upon Turenne’s troops.  The pursuit was indeed taken up again during the night, but Turenne succeeded in keeping his pursuers at bay, and reaching the frontiers of Hesse.  There he found the infantry and cavalry who had not been engaged already assembled, for they had received orders to march instantly to that spot.  He had now with him some four thousand horse and two thousand foot, and was joined by six thousand troops from Hesse and four thousand Swedes.  He was thus soon in a position to advance with a much stronger force than that which he commanded before the battle of Marienthal.

The Bavarian cavalry that had followed him rejoined General Merci at Kirchheim.  Hector was with Paolo taken to that place, and upon his refusal to continue his parole, was confined in a prison there, Paolo being allowed at his request to remain with him.  He had had an interview with General Merci, who had treated him with much courtesy; for there were Scotch and Irish officers serving in the Imperial army as well as in that of France, and they were held in high esteem for their courage and daring.

The battle of Marienthal was fought on the 2nd of May, and it was late in July before any fresh movements took place.  Turenne would willingly have advanced with his army, but his movements were arrested by a peremptory order from Paris, sent on receipt of the news of the defeat, that he was not to take the offensive until joined by Enghien, who had with him a force of eight thousand men.  He therefore marched to join the reinforcements, and the two armies met at Spires on the 2nd of July.  As before, Enghien was in supreme command, with de Gramont as his lieutenant general.  Long conferences took place between these generals:  Turenne, General Geis, who commanded the Hessians, and Konigsmark, who commanded the Swedes.  The Bavarians were known to be very strongly posted, and to have been reinforced by four thousand Imperialists under the command of General Geis.