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.