the end of which time the door of the antechamber was opened and
their names were called. The queen, who was still a beautiful woman,
was standing talking to a gentleman, in whose attire there were but few
symbols that would betray to a stranger that he was an ecclesiastic of
high rank.

"You are the bearers of despatches from the army, messieurs?"

"We have that honour, your majesty," de Penthiere, who was the senior of
the party, said. "We arrived from Paris at two o'clock this morning, but
did not venture to disturb your majesty at that hour."

"You did rightly," the queen said graciously. "We already knew that
a great victory had been gained, and could afford to wait for the
particulars. Do you each bear a despatch?"

"We do, your majesty," de Penthiere said, producing that which he bore.
"This, your majesty, is the general report of the Duc d'Enghien of
the events of the battle. Colonel Campbell is intrusted with the more
detailed description of General Gassion. Monsieur de Caussac's despatch
contains the duke's views as to the carrying on of the campaign; these
he submits to the judgment of your majesty and the council."

Cardinal Mazarin stepped forward and took the three documents.

"These we will peruse and consider at our leisure," the queen said, "and
I shall, I hope, see you at my levee this evening. In the meantime I
thank you for your service in having brought the despatches so speedily
here, and am well aware that the fact that you have been chosen as the
messengers of the commander-in-chief is in itself a proof that your
share in the battle was in the highest degree honourable."

She graciously held out her hand, which de Penthiere and his companions,
dropping upon one knee, raised to their lips, one after the other.

"You are aware of the contents of the despatches, cardinal," the queen
said when they were alone.

"Of their general scope, madam. The Prince of Conde did me the honour to
call upon me at eight this morning. He had gathered a general account
of the battle from the lips of that young Scottish colonel, who was the
only one of the party who was capable of relating it, the others being
almost speechless with fatigue, for the road from Rocroi hither is long
and rough."

"You may well say the young Scottish colonel, cardinal. He is but a
youth, and it is strange indeed that he should already have attained
that rank."

"He has served for four years under the Viscount Turenne," Mazarin