d'Artois."

"So that----"

"The Lieutenant-Colonel commands the regiment, which is now known as
the Regiment Dauphine, the Comte d'Artois' own," said the Major, with
fine scorn. "What a name to take the place of the Fifth-of-the-Line,"
he added.

"And Monsieur d'Aumenier?"

"Oh, he seems harmless enough. He is a trained soldier, too, of
royalist days before the Empire. He even told me he had been at the
school at Brienne when the Emperor was a student there."

"And who is with him?"

"His niece, the Countess Laure d'Aumenier, engaged to that young
English officer."

"And what of him?"

"Well enough for an Englishman, I suppose," was the careless answer.
"We were paraded yesterday and the young Englishman inspected us, the
lady looking on. Actually my gorge rose, as he handled our muskets,
criticized our drill. I heard some of the old mustaches of the
regiment say they would like to put a bayonet through him, and, to be
frank, I should like it myself. I fought against these English in
Spain. There's no love lost between us."

"Did he disparage the regiment?"

"Oh, no, quite the contrary. He was more than complimentary, but I
hate them. His father is here, too."

"I see. When is the marriage to take place?"

"How do I know? I was surprised when the old Marquis volunteered any
information to the likes of me."

"I must see the Marquis at once; with your permission, of course."

"You have it," returned the other, smiling. "You are not yet
reinstated in the regiment, and, so far as I am concerned, you are free
to go and come as you will."

"He is not here now, I believe?"

"No. He turned over the command to me temporarily. He is driving out
into the country, going out to the gap to reconnoiter for himself, I
take it, but he will be back before nightfall, and meanwhile you have
much to do. We want to get you well fed, to get some good French wine
into you, to put the blood into your veins and color into your cheeks,
to give you a bath, to get you clothing--everything," said the generous
old veteran.

CHAPTER XVIII

ALMOST A GENTLEMAN

"Will you tell the Lieutenant-Colonel, the Marquis d'Aumenier, that an
officer returned from the wars desires to see him?" said Marteau to the
footman who answered the door at the Governor's palace.

"So many wandering officers want to see His Excellency," said the
servant superciliously, "that I have instructions to require further
enlightenment