You lost five captains, did you not ?" "Yes, sir." "If you send me the names of the five senior lieutenants, I will promote them at once." "Thank you, marshal; that will make all my lieutenants captains.

I lost five of them and three second lieutenants." "Then you will require thirteen more officers." He looked at a list.
"There are eight belonging to the Ardennes, the rest I will draw from other regiments.

There is little fear of their objecting to the exchange, for your corps won such a reputation that all will be glad to join it; I will send you back to Nancy.

There are barracks there, and no other troops; and as we are not likely to be disturbed until the spring, you will have plenty of time to bring the regiment up to its former mark." The winter, indeed, passed quietly.

The officers were all greatly pleased when they heard the arrangements Hector had made, by which most of them obtained a step in rank instead of being, as they had feared, passed over by officers belonging to the Ardennes regiment.