more pleasantly from being fully occupied, and from
consciousness that we are doing our duty. As to the regiment in general,
the benefit has been enormous. The men seem pleased with the interest
shown in them, as much as with the comfort that they now enjoy, and they
in turn endeavour to satisfy us, both by their attention to drill, by
their bearing and manner, and by their avoidance of giving any cause for
complaint. All this, monsieur, has been your work, and I am sure that we
are all conscious of the difference of the display we made in the park,
and that which we should have shown had it not been for the reforms
which have been introduced by you. We all trust that the day may not be
far distant when we shall be able to prove on the field of battle the
same efficiency that has won us credit upon the parade ground."

"I thank you heartily, Captain de Thiou, for what you have been good
enough to say on your own behalf and that of the officers of the
regiment. I can only say that I have endeavoured to act up to the
teaching of Monsieur de Turenne, and I felt sure that although my
methods might at first seem irksome to some of you, their value would
gradually become appreciated. I am scarcely less pleased at the decrease
in drunkenness, and at the general improvement in the men, than by the
increase of discipline and efficiency."

"Do you mean to come to Paris, colonel?" De Thiou asked presently.

"No; I shall remain here. I shall ride in every day, but my presence
will be more necessary with the regiment than with only two companies.
You as senior officer will be responsible for the general order of the
detachment."

Hector rode in the next day with his men, and after seeing them
comfortably lodged in barracks, returned to St. Denis. A week later
reports reached St. Denis of a strange scene at the court. The haughty
and insolent Duchess of Monthazon, who belonged to the party of the
Importants, had the impertinence to insult the queen grossly in the
gardens of the Tuileries. She had at once been disgraced and ordered
to retire to Rochfield, and the Duke of Beaufort and his friends were
furious at this exercise of Mazarin's authority. The next day Hector
received a message asking him to call at the Hotel de Cleves, the
cardinal's residence. On his presenting himself, he was at once shown
into Mazarin's private apartments.

"Monsieur de Villar," Mazarin said, "I am sorely in need of friends.
You have heard of what ha