eir hearts at the feet of the first
comer, and who are as ready to change mistresses as sides."

By this time the door had closed behind Hector. The queen was sitting
on a sofa, with the little king by her side. Mazarin stood a pace behind
her. Conde and Orleans had a short time before gone out, and had mingled
with the crowd in the antechamber, and the courtiers present, who were
all members of her council, stood some distance in the rear.

"We have had time, Colonel Campbell, to read our despatches, and can now
estimate the service that you rendered the Duc d'Enghien and our army.
General Gassion, or I should say Marshal Gassion, for he has today been
raised to that rank, speaks of the value of that service in terms of the
highest eulogy, and indeed says frankly, that had it not been for your
voluntary expedition and the discovery by you of the Spanish ambuscade,
it is probable that we should have suffered a defeat instead of a
victory. The duke speaks no less strongly in your favour. I can remember
that when the Viscount Turenne was here three years ago, he told us how
a young Scottish officer on his staff had saved Turin to us by a most
daring enterprise, by which he informed the garrison of the citadel that
help would soon reach them, and mentioned that for that service he had
appointed Monsieur Campbell a captain. You are Scottish by birth, are
you not?"

"I am, your majesty, by birth and descent. My father was a captain in
the Scottish regiment, and fell at the siege of La Rochelle. I was, I
may say, adopted by the regiment, and had the good fortune to be trained
in arms from a child, and the still greater fortune to attract the
attention of the Viscount de Turenne, who, young as I was, obtained a
commission for me and appointed me to his staff."

"Well, young sir, the viscount rewarded you for the great service that
you rendered him at Turin; the Duc d'Enghien has similarly rewarded you
for your service to him at Rocroi; but it is ours to reward you for
your services to France; and Cardinal Mazarin will, in my name, hand you
tomorrow the estate of de la Villar, in Poitou, which carries with it
the title of Baron de la Villar. A soldier who has rendered such service
to us cannot be allowed to remain a soldier dependent on his pay, and
I am sure that should need arise you will do me as good service as you
have rendered to Turenne and Enghien."

"Your majesty is too good and gracious," Hector stammered, overcom