seen my reflection. It will be a long
time before I shall be able to persuade myself that these clothes are
my own, and that I really am an officer's lackey. Now, master, you must
teach me my duties, of which I know nought when in a house like this,
though I know well enough what they are when you are in the field."

"They are few enough at present, Paolo. Monsieur de Turenne's stablemen
look after the horses of his staff. When I do not dine with him, I and
my two friends, M. de Lisle and M. de Chavigny, dine and sup together
at an inn. There is my room to keep tidy, my bed to make, my armour and
arms to be polished, and my clothes to be brushed. Hitherto, my orderly
has done these things, but it will now be your duty. As I do not eat in
my rooms, it is clear that there is no food for you, and when we are in
towns I shall give you money to pay for your meals at a cabaret."

"I hope, master, that you will soon find something more useful for me
to do, for, in truth, I fear that with so much time on my hands I shall
find it sorely difficult to comport myself as is due to your lackey."

"Do not fear, I have little doubt that you will soon find work enough
and to spare, and indeed you will often ride with me."

Some few days later, the other two aides-de-camp being away, the
viscount requested Hector to accompany him on a tour of inspection that
might last two or three days. He was accompanied by his orderly and
three other troopers, behind who rode two of his own lackeys with
baskets of provisions. With them rode Paolo, Hector having asked the
general if he should take him with him.

"You may as well do so, Campbell, it will accustom him to his work. What
made you choose so young a servant?" he asked, as he rode off.

"He is a year older than I am, though perhaps not so tall. He is the
brother of a man in the employment of Monsieur de Vevey. He has been
through the last two campaigns. I find him very intelligent. He obeys
my orders promptly, and as he is heart and soul in the cause of the
duchess, I feel sure of his fidelity, especially as he has had a hard
time of it up to now, and is, I think, grateful to me for taking him.
He speaks French very well, and might certainly be of great use to me
in any enterprise that your lordship might be good enough to entrust
me with. Being about the same age, I think that we might perhaps go
together unquestioned where a man would be unable to pass."

The viscount rode on for some