“I am here to see the Viscount Turenne by appointment,” he said.

The lackey led the way to a large chamber, where several officers and gentlemen were waiting.  Here Hector gave his name to a chamberlain, who took it into another apartment.  He waited for half an hour, and observed that while the officers, one by one, were taken into the room where the lackey had carried his name, the nobles and gentlemen, who were much more numerous, were shown into another, which was evidently the principal reception room.  He guessed at once that it was here that the Duc de Bouillon was receiving visitors, while his brother was engaged in giving interviews to officers, who perhaps desired appointments in his army, or in arranging details of stores, arms, and ammunition required for its use.  At last his turn came; and on his name being called, he followed the usher into a small apartment, where Turenne was sitting at a table covered with letters.  The general looked at him critically.

“You make a very good figure,” he said, “and better, I can tell you, than I did at your age, for I was but weakly, while you are well grown and strong.  Among your other exercises you have not neglected the use of your sword.  I could tell that as soon as my eyes fell upon you.”

“No, general, I have practised for two or three hours a day since I was ten years old, and I think that almost every soldier in the regiment has been my instructor in turn, and the maitre-d’armes of the regiment himself gave me lessons twice a week.”

“I have managed your business for you,” the viscount said.  “I saw the cardinal yesterday and asked for a commission for you.  He simply asked for what regiment, and I said that at present I intended to keep you about my own person, as I thought you would make a good officer and would some day do me credit.  He was busy at the time, so he simply signed an appointment as a lieutenant and gave it to me to fill in your name.  I asked if I should bring you to his levee tomorrow, but he said, ’There is no occasion, viscount, we have both plenty on our hands; neither you nor I can waste time on young lieutenants.  You can present him to me when you return from the war.’  You know the cardinal by sight, I suppose?”

“Yes, general, I have seen him many times.”

“He is a great man,” Turenne said thoughtfully, rather as if speaking to himself than to Hector; “the greatest that France has ever known —­ he is the soul of France.  It is well, indeed, that we have at present a king who recognizes how great a man he is, and is wise enough to know that although he himself is somewhat overshadowed, France is made greater and stronger and his own reign more glorious by his genius.”  Then he broke off with a smile.  “I was talking to myself rather than to you.  I shall ride to St. Denis at two o’clock today; be here at that time.  I will order the horse, that I have purchased for you, to be brought round here.”