e
by this sudden and unexpected reward; "but be assured, madame"--and he
recovered himself, and his voice was steady--"should there be need, I
will willingly lay down my life in your majesty's service, and in that
of the king, your son."

"Which means also," the queen said gently, "in that of my minister, who
may need faithful friends even more than we do, and under whose advice
we have now acted."

"Assuredly, madame. Cardinal Mazarin is your minister, and as long as
he possesses your confidence he represents France in my eyes, and I will
render as faithful service to him as to yourself."

"Well spoken, baron," the queen said graciously. "Henceforth I shall
count you as among my friends." She held out her hand for him to
kiss, as did the little king, and after a deep bow to them and to the
cardinal, Hector left the audience chamber still almost bewildered by
the honours bestowed upon him.

Hector made his way through the crowd to the side of Colonel Maclvor,
the general verdict of those who watched him being that he had not met
with the same good fortune as those who preceded him, but that for some
reason or other he had been reprimanded.

"Well, lad," the colonel said, "what fortune have you met with? Judging
by your face, either the queen or the cardinal have failed to recognize
the service that you have rendered."

"Upon the contrary, colonel, they have so heaped favours upon me that
at present I can scarcely realize my good fortune, and feel almost
humiliated that so much should have been given for what was a mere
matter of duty and attended by no great peril."

"What have they done, then, Campbell?"

"Well, colonel, absurd as it seems even to myself, the queen has
graciously bestowed upon me the estate of la Villar, by which gift she
says I become as its owner the Baron de la Villar."

"That is fortunate indeed, my dear Campbell," the colonel said, heartily
shaking him by the hand. "It shows that the duke and Gassion were of
the same opinion that we expressed, namely, that your discovery of that
ambush was the chief factor in bringing about the victory of Rocroi."

"But it was such a simple thing," Hector said. "It was merely a
reconnaissance, such as I have made scores of times in Italy."

"No doubt, Campbell; but you see the other reconnaissances did not lead
to any results, while this did. My dear lad, it is by results that
men are judged. That you, a young officer on Enghien's staff, should
unbid