ehold you will find it no child's
play, certainly no life of ease and comfort. I do not spare myself, nor
do I spare the officers immediately under me. In a regiment you would
learn better, perhaps, the duties of a regimental officer, but with me
you will have more opportunities of learning the art of war, and of some
day becoming a distinguished officer, always supposing that you are
not shot down in battle or die of fatigue and hardship. Which do you
choose?"

"Oh, sir, how can I thank you for your goodness? There is nothing in the
world that I should like so much as to be in your service."

"So be it," the general said. "I shall obtain an appointment for you as
lieutenant attached to my household. At first, you will simply have to
carry messages for me; but when I have learnt more of your character I
shall employ you as one that I can trust.

"Sergeant, here is a purse, use the contents in furnishing the lad with
clothes suitable for his position, and let him call on me in three days
at the hotel of the Duc de Bouillon, where I am staying.

"Can you ride?" he asked suddenly.

"Yes, sir."

"I will see to the matter of a horse for you. I shall be leaving at the
end of a week to join the army in Italy. And remember always, lad," he
added with a smile, "that I am still but a learner in the art of war."

So saying he nodded kindly to him and the sergeant, went out, returned
the salute of the soldiers, mounted his horse, which his orderly was
holding for him, and rode off.

"Well, well," said the sergeant, who with Hector had followed him out,
"the like of this I never saw before: to think that the Viscount of
Turenne should visit the cabaret of a soldier, and should have deigned
to offer you a position in his household! I can scarce believe that I
am not dreaming. How did it all come about, and how have you thus gained
his favour?"

"I am ashamed to say, sergeant, that I gained it by my presumption; now
that I know who he was, I may say by my insolence. A party of us were
having a mimic battle. We were acting as the regiment of Turenne at the
storming of La Motte. I was in command, and so acting as Turenne, when
a gentleman, who, by his appearance and age, and by the fact that two
troopers rode behind him, I took to be a captain in the army, came up
and questioned me as to what we were doing. I told him, then he talked
about Turenne. I said I thought he was our greatest general. He, that
Turenne was only a lear