the hardships of war. Had
Hector been appointed to what was called the second no surprise would
have been felt at his youth, but that anyone should have gained the
position of first colonel at his age by sheer merit was astonishing
indeed to them. In twenty minutes the officers were all assembled and
introduced by the senior captain to Hector.

"We will not begin business now," the latter said. "My leave of absence
does not terminate until tomorrow morning, and I think that it is much
more pleasant to talk over matters comfortably round a table than it is
to do so in a set manner. Therefore, gentlemen, if you will all sup with
me this evening at the Fleur de Lis, after we have finished our meal
we will talk over our wine. My opinion is that officers of a regiment
should be good comrades. The regiment benefits by it, and everything
goes on more smoothly and comfortably. This is specially so in a
newly raised regiment, where the officers either are altogether new to
military matters, or join from other regiments, and have no previous
knowledge of each other. In the same way the men are all new to each
other, and to their officers. Unless there is perfect harmony among the
officers, there cannot be perfect harmony in the regiment.

"If one officer looks after the comfort of his company, and treats them
as he should do, while another company is neglected and left solely
to the care of the sergeants, there will necessarily be envy and ill
feeling. The regiment will cease to be a unit. I may say, gentlemen,
that this is the dictum not of myself, but of Marshal Turenne, who was
my instructor in the art of war, and who followed out the better system
from the time that he was a boy of fourteen until now. The result is
that his regiment is the finest in the service. It will be my aim and
ambition to raise the Poitou regiment as nearly as possible to the same
condition, and I shall rely upon your assistance and cooperation to
bring this about.

"Supper will be served at six. I have only just returned from the
country, and have heard no news. I suppose that no intimation has been
received as to what is our destination and whither we shall march?"

"None whatever, colonel," de Thiou, the senior captain, said.

"All the better. I hope that they will give us a couple of months to get
into shape. There is but little time for drill and discipline when we
are once in the field."

So saying he saluted the officers and returned to t