We were just coming to look for you to carry you off to supper in honour of your promotion." "You deserve it, if anyone ever did, there is no doubt of that," Chavigny said heartily.

"We are quite proud of our comrade." "It seems absurd that I should be a captain." "Not absurd at all," Chavigny said.

"Turenne was a captain when he was a year younger than you are, and there is many a noble who has been made a colonel before he ever drew sword in battle." Hector was much pleased at the evidently genuine congratulations of his companions.

He had indeed rather feared that they would take his promotion ill; being nearly five years his senior, and having served in two previous campaigns, they might well feel hurt at his being promoted while they still remained only lieutenants.

The young nobles indeed felt no shade of jealousy.