health of the colonel, and congratulated him most warmly upon his escape
from the enemy, expressing the extreme satisfaction of all the men as
well as officers at his return. The toast was drunk with enthusiasm,
and Hector briefly returned thanks. Then, in accordance with the general
request, he related the particulars of his escape from Ingoldstadt and
of his journey. Paolo, who had been waiting behind his master's chair,
came in for warm praise for the share he had taken in the matter.

"I certainly did not think when I first, against the advice of everyone,
took Paolo as my lackey five years ago, that he would turn out so
valuable a servant as he has done," Hector said as de Thiou handed a
goblet of wine to the man. "He has been more than a servant, he has
taken part in all my adventures, and truly I regard him as my friend.
Indeed, gentlemen, had it not been for him I certainly should not be
here tonight, for my own money gave out altogether at Hall, and I had to
borrow from his store the means of buying clothes and horses."

"By the way, colonel," de Thiou said, "from the day that you were
captured I have drawn your pay for you, knowing that if it fell into
arrear you would have had hard work in getting it, so that I have now
three months of your money in the regimental chest."

"Thank you, de Thiou, it will be very welcome; though Paolo would not
have been a very hard creditor."

At eight o'clock the party broke up, and Hector walked across to
Turenne's quarters. The latter had just returned from a consultation
with the other generals.

"We shall open our trenches here tonight; the place is of some
importance, as it is on the direct road to Nordlingen, and it is as well
not to leave it behind us. This, however, we shall do, if news comes
that Merci is marching to give us battle before that city, which we
expect he will do. The Imperialists will like to fight there, for it
was the scene of their great victory over the Duke of Weimar and the
Swedes."

"We must hope that we shall reverse matters this time, marshal."

"We must hope so," the latter said gravely; "if we fight on a fair
field I have no misgivings whatever. But Merci always takes up strong
positions and entrenches himself, and Enghien is so anxious to fight
that he will do so at a disadvantage rather than wait until we can meet
them on even terms. You know what happened at Freiburg, where we lost
some nine thousand men and gained no great advanta