ake the place of
the first, and so in order, so that each company will in turn have its
share in this honourable service."

There was a general murmur of satisfaction. The next morning a formal
order was received that two companies of the Poitou regiment should
march into Paris, and occupy a portion of the barracks which the Scotch
regiment had just vacated.

Hector called up the two companies he had selected.

"Now, men," he said, "you see the advantage that you have gained by
discipline and good conduct. I have no doubt that before granting us the
honour of forming a part of the garrison of Paris, the minister has made
inquiries respecting the conduct of the regiment here, and has doubtless
heard that it has been eminently satisfactory, and that the authorities
and inhabitants have no complaint, of drunkenness or misconduct, against
us. Of misconduct there have been no cases, of drunkenness very few,
and, indeed, for the past month there has not been a single case among
you. I trust that you will remember that while in Paris the credit of
the regiment is in your hands, and that no single case of drunkenness or
brawling in the streets will take place. I feel confident that this
will be so, and I need hardly say that should there be an exception, the
punishment will be vastly more severe than any that has previously been
awarded, and I am sure that any offender will find, in the contempt
with which he will be regarded by his comrades, a still more severe
punishment than any that I can inflict."

That evening Captain de Thiou and the other officers of the two
companies that were to march into Paris the next day dined with Hector;
and after dinner de Thiou rose and said: "Colonel, I have been requested
to express to you, on behalf of the whole of the officers of the
regiment, our deep gratitude for the honours that our regiment has
obtained. These you were good enough yesterday to ascribe partly to us;
but we feel that they are wholly due to yourself. Although some of us
were at first a little inclined to think that the changes made by you
in our work were unnecessary, all now recognize fully how great has been
the benefit, not only to the regiment, but to ourselves. Duties which
were at first considered irksome are now regarded as pleasant. We feel
that, as you said would be the case, we have acquired the respect of
the men, and that it is upon us that they rely, and not upon their
sergeants.

"Our own time passes