Won by the Sword | Page 7

officers, one by one, were taken into the room
where the lackey had carried his name, the nobles and gentlemen, who
were much more numerous, were shown into another, which was
evidently the principal reception room. He guessed at once that it was
here that the Duc de Bouillon was receiving visitors, while his brother
was engaged in giving interviews to officers, who perhaps desired
appointments in his army, or in arranging details of stores, arms, and
ammunition required for its use. At last his turn came; and on his name
being called, he followed the usher into a small apartment, where
Turenne was sitting at a table covered with letters. The general looked
at him critically.

"You make a very good figure," he said, "and better, I can tell you, than
I did at your age, for I was but weakly, while you are well grown and
strong. Among your other exercises you have not neglected the use of
your sword. I could tell that as soon as my eyes fell upon you."
"No, general, I have practised for two or three hours a day since I was
ten years old, and I think that almost every soldier in the regiment has
been my instructor in turn, and the maitre-d'armes of the regiment
himself gave me lessons twice a week."
"I have managed your business for you," the viscount said. "I saw the
cardinal yesterday and asked for a commission for you. He simply
asked for what regiment, and I said that at present I intended to keep
you about my own person, as I thought you would make a good officer
and would some day do me credit. He was busy at the time, so he
simply signed an appointment as a lieutenant and gave it to me to fill in
your name. I asked if I should bring you to his levee tomorrow, but he
said, 'There is no occasion, viscount, we have both plenty on our hands;
neither you nor I can waste time on young lieutenants. You can present
him to me when you return from the war.' You know the cardinal by
sight, I suppose?"
"Yes, general, I have seen him many times."
"He is a great man," Turenne said thoughtfully, rather as if speaking to
himself than to Hector; "the greatest that France has ever known -- he is
the soul of France. It is well, indeed, that we have at present a king who
recognizes how great a man he is, and is wise enough to know that
although he himself is somewhat overshadowed, France is made greater
and stronger and his own reign more glorious by his genius." Then he
broke off with a smile. "I was talking to myself rather than to you. I
shall ride to St. Denis at two o'clock today; be here at that time. I will
order the horse, that I have purchased for you, to be brought round
here."
Hector was about to express his gratitude, but the general at once
stopped him. "I need no thanks," he said. "I perceived in the ardour
with which you have studied military matters that you would make a

good officer, and you remind me of my own boyhood. I always like to
help forward officers who I see ready, not only to do their actual
business but to go beyond it, in order to acquire knowledge, and I doubt
not that I shall find this in you. But you must remember, lad, that you
are now no longer a civilian, but a soldier, that you must be not only
obedient but respectful to those above you in rank, that discretion as
well as courage is necessary for success, that you must be thoughtful
for the comfort of the soldiers, ready to expose your life in battle to
encourage them, and also to set them an example of endurance,
cheerfulness, and good spirits in times of hardship and distress.
Remember that, to the soldier, there is no such thing as party; he fights
for France and for France only, and should hold himself aloof from
even the smallest expression of opinion on political matters. Then, at
two o'clock."
Hector bowed deeply and left the room. When he returned to the hotel
at two o'clock, six grooms were standing with the horses before the
entrance; he waited outside until the viscount, followed by four officers,
came out.
"Oh, here you are, lieutenant!" he said, as his eye fell on Hector; "I was
afraid that punctuality was not among your virtues. Gentlemen, this is
Lieutenant Hector Campbell, son of a brave officer of the Scottish
regiment who fell at La Rochelle; he is, for the present, attached to my
household, and will ride with us for Italy the day after tomorrow.
Campbell,