letter from Mazarin; it reached me while I was at
Spires. He said he was sorry to hear that you had been taken prisoner,
and requested me to make an exchange for you as soon as possible, even
if I had to give a general officer for you, for he was very deeply your
debtor, and had the highest esteem for you. What have you been doing to
make him your debtor? You never mentioned anything of the sort to me."

"The matter was to some degree a state one, marshal, or I should
have told you of it; but as it took place nearly a year ago, and the
circumstances are altogether changed, I can mention them to you in
confidence--for even now, were it known, it might make me some powerful
enemies." He then related how it was that he had thwarted the attempt on
Mazarin's life.

"That was a piece of singular good fortune," Turenne said. "Mazarin is
a staunch friend and a bitter enemy. I owe him no goodwill, for he has
behaved shamefully to de Bouillon, refusing to hand to him the estates
for which he exchanged his principality of Sedan; but I do not permit
myself to allow family interests to weigh with me against my duties to
France. Truly, as you say, it were well to hide your share in a business
that sent De Beaufort and a score of others to prison, and a dozen
members of powerful families into exile; it might well cause you serious
trouble were it known. You did well to keep the matter to yourself, and
you did specially well to refuse to accept any personal honour, for had
you done so Mazarin's enemies would at once have connected that fact
with the discovery of the plot."

On returning to his regiment, Hector found that an order had come just
after he left, for four companies to march down under the guidance of an
engineer officer to begin work on the trenches. De Thiou, knowing
that he had gone to the marshal's, had gone down with the four
leading companies. The other infantry regiments had furnished similar
contingents, showing that the siege was to be pushed forward with all
haste.

"Enghien does not allow the grass to grow under his feet," Captain
Mieville said. "We stormed Wimpfen a few hours after our arrival before
it; we carried Rothenburg in a single night, and I expect that by
tomorrow evening we shall be masters of this place."

In the morning four more companies went down to relieve those who had
been at work all night, and these had made great progress when, in the
afternoon, the news came that Merci was marching wi