Thanking him for his kindness, Hector mounted, and took his place by the side of Captain Simon, while Paolo fell in with the orderlies riding close behind.

“I presume, monsieur, that you are going to obtain some information for Viscount Turenne.  I don’t want to ask any questions as to the nature of your mission, but as I have orders to bring back with the horses your cloaks and hats, I presume that in the first place you are going on foot, and in the second, you are going in disguise.”

“Your judgment is correct, captain.  The viscount wishes to obtain certain information, and I am going to fetch it for him, if I can.”

“I hope that you will be successful, sir.  It is a good night for travelling, the stars are bright and the moon down, so that you will have light enough to keep the road, and time enough to step aside should you meet any party who might be inclined to question all passersby.”

“Do you know the roads well about here?” Hector asked.

“I was stationed in Turin before the enemy came with too great a force to be resisted.”

“I want to strike across the country, and to come into the road from Turin to Casale at a distance of three or four miles from the city.”

“A mile or so away a road branches off from this which keeps by the river.  It is a mere country road, and except in two or three small villages that you will pass through, you are not likely to meet with anyone upon it.  It is about eight miles to the main road from the point where you turn off, and you will then be five miles from Turin.  It is just possible that you may meet patrols, but I should think it very unlikely; now that our army has gone into winter quarters at Carignano, they are not likely to be very vigilant.”

As they rode along Hector related some of the incidents of the late battle.  No signs of the enemy were met with, and the officer presently said, “I am sorry to say that this is the point where you leave us, monsieur.  I wish it had been a little farther, so that I could hear more of the fight.”

Hector and Paolo dismounted.  Two troopers were called up and took charge of their horses, while the cloaks and hats were given to the officer’s orderly, then the two lads put on the Savoyard hats they had carried under their cloaks.  The officer took two packets from his holster.

“The colonel bade me give this to you at starting,” he said.  “He thought that after a long walk on foot you would want some slight refreshment before the inns were open in the morning.”

“Will you please give him my hearty thanks for his thoughtfulness,” Hector said, “and accept the same yourself for your courtesy in escorting me.”

“Now we are fairly on our way, Paolo,” he went on as he turned down the lane, for it was little more; “this package is a bottle of wine, and the one that I have handed to you contains the eatables.”