the regiment is in your hands.  I know that during the time that I have been away this winter things have gone on satisfactorily; but it is clearly impossible for an officer to keep a regiment well in hand when, as in your case, your appointment was only a day or two earlier than that of some of the others.  You are likely to have some stiff marching now, for only one other infantry regiment besides ours will accompany the cavalry, the rest will remain here until they get an opportunity of rejoining.  Of course I shall take Paolo and my four mounted troopers back with me to Paris.  I may probably send them on to la Villar, as it is not likely that I shall need them at court.”

On the evening of the fifth day after leaving Mayence Hector arrived in Paris, and alighted at the cardinal’s hotel.

“So you are again a bearer of despatches, Monsieur Campbell,” the cardinal said, as Hector entered his apartment.  “They need be important, or the marshal would hardly have sent you with them.”

“They are, as you will see, important, your eminence, but I am sent rather to explain further than the marshal could do in a letter his reasons for the step that he has taken.  As you have learned long before this, the Duke of Bavaria has proved false to his promises.  He has effected a junction with the Imperialist army, and the marshal has news that both are marching against the Swedes, who are in no strength to show fight against so great a force.”

The cardinal opened the despatch, and read it in silence.

“’Tis a grave step for the marshal to have taken without orders,” he said, frowning; “and do you mean to say that he has already started on this expedition?”

“The troops had fallen into their ranks when I started, and by this time they must be well on their way towards Holland.  There was no time, sir, for the marshal to await a reply to the despatch.  The matter was most urgent, every day was of importance, for if the Swedes fell back, as they might do, before the archduke, the latter would be able to overrun all northern Germany, to capture the towns of the Protestant princes, break up their confederation, and compel them to give in their submission; for Turenne with his small force would be powerless to interfere with their operations, even if by pressing after them with all speed he arrived within striking distance.”

“And think you that he will reach Wrangel in time?”

“He hopes so, sir.  He sent off a messenger before starting, with orders to buy fresh horses at all cost at each halting place, to carry the news as quickly as possible to Wrangel that he was on his way to join him, and imploring him to intrench himself in some strong position until he should come up.

“How long hence will that be?”

“The march will be pressed forward with all speed, your eminence, with such delays only as may be needed to keep the horses in such a state that they may be ready for fighting as soon as they join the Swedes.  He hopes to be there in a month from the day of starting.”