“Well, Home,” the colonel said, “Hector Campbell is a proof that even in France merit will make its way.  That Turenne should have taken a fancy to him in the first place was fortunate.  But Turenne would surely not have promoted him to be a captain within three or four months of his joining except for the marked bravery and diligence that he told us he displayed at Turin; and I have no doubt that when we hear the particulars we shall find that this promotion now has been equally well deserved, for certainly Enghien is not likely to have gone out of his way to promote one altogether a stranger to him when he had so many young nobles round him, personal friends of his own, belonging to families whom he would wish to oblige.  Of course you will, as one of the bearers of despatches, attend at the court this evening, Campbell?”

“Yes, the queen said that she would expect to see us.”

“Of course; and you will be envied by every young courtier there.  At the present moment Paris is half wild over the victory of Rocroi, and as you three will be the representatives of the army, specially selected for the share you had in the battle, you may be sure that you will be regarded with eyes of favour by every lady of the court.”

“Well, I should think it would be a great nuisance,” Hector said gruffly.  “Hitherto I have had nothing to do with ladies.  There were very few with the Duchess of Savoy, and whenever there were receptions or state ceremonies of any kind, I was always ready to exchange with de Lisle or Chavigny, my fellow aides-de-camp.  So that during the whole time I was there, I never but once or twice accompanied the general on such occasions.”

“Ah, you were younger then,” Home laughed.  “You have passed eighteen now, and, as you must know yourself, are by no means bad looking, with a certain air of freshness and simplicity that is so rare here in Paris that it will be regarded as refreshing and delightful after the flippancies of the court gallants.”

Hector laughed uncomfortably.  “I could not take up flippancies, I am afraid.  But what you say is true, Home; and if I had to remain at court, I suppose I should have to set to work at once to cultivate some affectation or other to counteract this simplicity of which you speak.  However, thank goodness, I do not suppose that I shall stay here long.  At any rate, it is lucky that I purchased a new court suit before I started to join the Duke of Enghien.  Coming from Viscount Turenne I thought that I was bound to make a good figure among the crowd of young nobles round Enghien, but it made a large hole in my savings.”

“Do you mean to say that you had savings?” one of the other officers exclaimed.  “Who ever heard of such a thing?  I never have a pistole left in my pocket a week after I get my month’s pay.”

“It is a very different thing living in Susa to living in Paris,” Hector laughed.  “I can assure you that I never spent more than half my pay; but living was dearer down in Roussillon.  Things have been in such a disturbed state there for years that the country was well nigh a desert; and though my two comrades and I messed together, the living cost twice as much as it did at Susa.  Shall I see any of you this evening at the palace?”