f our
courtiers, but from your age. Now you look all over a soldier, and a
weatherbeaten one."

Hector had indeed aged during the past two years. He was now nearly
two-and-twenty, his moustache had grown, and, as was the custom of the
time, he wore a small imperial. The habit of command had given to his
face an expression of decision and resolution unusual at his age, and
a life spent in the open air, and for the most part sleeping without
cover, had bronzed his skin, and had counteracted the youthful
appearance caused by his fair complexion.

"'Tis but some three months since we heard of you as a prisoner, having
been captured while with your regiment covering the retreat after the
unfortunate battle of Marienthal. The cardinal told me that he had
written to the field marshal to try and arrange an exchange for you if
possible. We had not heard that he had done so when the Duc d'Enghien's
report of the battle of Nordlingen spoke of you as doing good service
with your regiment there. I suppose Turenne, in the press of business,
omitted to say that you had been exchanged."

"I was not exchanged, madam. I succeeded in effecting my escape from the
fortress of Ingoldstadt."

"You seem born to have adventures, monsieur," the queen said. "We heard
before of your regiment performing prodigies of valour at Freiburg, and
of withstanding Merci's whole army, foot and horse, for three hours.
Last winter the governor of Lorraine reported that you and a company
of your regiment from Nancy had defeated a great body of insurgent
peasants, and had rescued Madame de Blenfoix and her daughter from
massacre at their hands. There is no officer under the rank of general
whose name has been so frequently brought under our notice. You intend
to make some stay in Paris, I hope?"

"I shall do myself the honour later on, your majesty; but I hear that
there are peasant troubles down in Poitou, and as I only paid a visit of
a few days there, when your majesty had the goodness to present the fief
to me, I am anxious to know how matters are going on, and to see that my
castle is secure from attack by the insurgents."

"Your excuse is a good one. It would be well if more possessors
of estates would spend their time in endeavouring to alleviate the
condition of their people, instead of wasting their time and money in
Paris."

"Monsieur de Villar took steps in that direction, your majesty, before
leaving for the war; for my agents, who keep me i