Hector spent the next three weeks in visiting eight of the estates that seemed suitable and were all situated in counties near London.  Finally he settled upon one in Berkshire, which was of considerable size and with a stately house in a fair position.  This he purchased, and then, returning to Plymouth, his marriage with Norah was celebrated there, and he, with his wife and Madame de Blenfoix and his five followers, rode down into Berkshire and took possession of the estate, with which all were delighted.  The troopers, instead of accepting the house he offered them, preferred to remain in his service, and Paolo was installed as majordomo of the household.  Six months later MacIntosh and his two comrades came over.

The former declined Hector’s offer to take up his abode at the house.

“No, colonel, I have an abundance for myself and my two comrades, and would rather be near you, where we can live in our own fashion, and give trouble to no one.”

“Well, if you will not come here, MacIntosh, there is a house a quarter of a mile away which will, I think, suit you well.  It is not a large place, but is a comfortable one, and has been used as the house of the steward of the estate.  As I shall be my own steward it is vacant, and will, I think, suit you well.  It is furnished, so that you and your comrades can move in when you like, though the longer you stay with us the better we shall be pleased.”

A fortnight later MacIntosh and his comrades moved in, and there, when not occupied with their duties, one or other of the troopers was generally to be found.  Hector often dropped in, and one day laughingly said that the house ought to be renamed The Scottish Soldier.

Until the Restoration Hector kept aloof from London, but when Charles II mounted the throne of his fathers he went up, and was presented at court by one of the many English gentlemen whom he had known in France, where they had sought refuge with the queen when the royal cause was lost in England.  He did not, however, repeat the visit very often.  He was perfectly happy in his country life, and never once regretted the chain of events that had forced him to give up his life of adventure and excitement and to settle down peacefully in England.

THE END