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?"

"I shall be there," the colonel said, "and so will Home and Lesley.
It is always expected that three officers from each of the regiments
stationed in Paris, and five from the one that happens to be on guard
for the evening, should attend the royal receptions. It will be a
specially brilliant affair tonight, for the queen has held but few
receptions of late. It was only announced yesterday afternoon, after the
news of the battle arrived. Had it not been for that, the salons would
not have been opened for another month."

"I am very glad that there will be somebody there I shall know."

"Don't flatter yourself that you are going to consort with us," the
colonel laughed. "You will have to be presented to at least a score of
court dames. However, fortunately, they will not expect the usual amount
of compliments. They will be really wanting to hear of the battle, and
most of them will be interested in some special friend with the army,
and will want to inquire about him."

"It will not be so bad, then," Hector said. "If I only have to talk of
military matters I shall not mind, but it will be painful indeed if I
have to give news of the death of anyone dear to the lady I am speaking
to."

"I don't think that you need fear very much about that. Enghien is
pretty sure to have sent a list containing the names of any court
gallants that have fallen, and their relatives will at once have been
notified of it, and will not be present at the court. As to the others,
who have merely lost lovers, they will not break their hearts over it.
It is the fashion to change them so rapidly that probably not a few
of the ladies will have consoled themselves for their absence already.
However, to begin with, I daresay I shall be able to act as your mentor
and guide, and point out to you who is who, so that you can avoid
falling into serious errors. You see, there are half a dozen parties
at court already. There are Mazarin's friends, who, by the way, are
not numerous; there are the Duke of Beaufort's clique; there is Conde's
party.

"Madame Chevreuse's party consists largely of herself. She is a power,
but at presen