He has indeed carried on the war largely on his own resources, which has been of no slight advantage to us, seeing that our exchequer is but too often strained to meet demands from other quarters.

If he succeeds in this enterprise, you must write in our name and bid him come hither to receive our thanks in person, and to rest for a while from his labours in our service.
"You have changed somewhat, Monsieur de Villar, since we last saw you.
The ladies of the court called you then the little colonel--not because of your size, for you already overtopped the greater portion of our courtiers, but from your age.

Now you look all over a soldier, and a weatherbeaten one." Hector had indeed aged during the past two years.

He was now nearly two-and-twenty, his moustache had grown, and, as was the custom of the time, he wore a small imperial.

The habit of command had given to his face an expression of decision and resolution unusual at his age, and a life spent in the open air, and for the most part sleeping without cover, had bronzed his skin, and had counteracted the youthful appearance caused by his fair complexion.
"'Tis but some three months since we heard of you as a prisoner, having been captured while with your regiment covering the retreat after the unfortunate battle of Marienthal.