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