The colonel will be right glad to see you," and he led the way into the house.
"Then the regiment has not been on service just lately ?" "We had two years on the Rhine; but we came back here last autumn.
The Red Cardinal was not fond of us, but he knew that he could trust us--which is more than he could have done some of the regiments--so he had us back again; and we were not sorry, for it was but dull work there--sieges and nought else." He was just going to open the door of the inner room when Hector said, "You can announce me, Macfarlane, as Colonel Campbell." "Gude Lord," the sergeant ejaculated, "ye dinna say that ye are a colonel ?" Then reassuming with a great effort his military stiffness, he opened the door and announced in a loud tone, "Colonel Hector Campbell." There was an exclamation of astonishment from the colonel and two or three officers who were sitting with him.
"Why, Campbell," the former said, coming forward and warmly shaking his hand, "you are changed indeed, and you have come back to us almost the living image of your father when he first joined." The officers all shook hands with him warmly, and the colonel went on, "Macfarlane announced you as colonel, Hector, but surely you cannot have gained that rank ?" "I only obtained it two days ago.

You see it is a good thing to be a prince's aide-de-camp.

Turenne, wishing to give me every opportunity of seeing service, sent me to Enghien with a message asking him to employ me on his staff." "And you were at Rocroi ?" the colonel exclaimed.

"What is the real news of the battle?
It was given out officially last night that we had won a victory, and there are all sorts of rumours this morning in the town--they say that three officers arrived last night with full details." "I was one of the three, colonel; and I have just now come from the palace after handing my despatches to the queen." "Then it was Enghien who made you colonel ?" "Yes." "Well, then, you must have done something marked, or you could never have got the rank.

Why, he has half the young nobles of France in his train--he has not made them all colonels, I suppose ?" "No, I suppose not; but we started early the next morning, and therefore cannot say what promotions were made." "Still they made yours, Campbell.