He has just returned after having successfully carried out a most dangerous and difficult mission, namely, that of communicating with the garrison of Turin." The officers gave an exclamation of surprise, while Captain Simon stepped forward and shook hands warmly with Hector.
"You did not tell me exactly what you were going to do," he said.

"I thought that it was to see some of the duchess's adherents in Turin, but I never dreamt that you were going to attempt to communicate with the citadel.

Had I known that, I certainly should not have expected to see you again, for from what we have heard it is next to impossible to get through the enemy's lines." "We will not trouble Monsieur Campbell until he has finished his breakfast," the commandant said.

"He has already told me briefly how he managed, but I shall be as glad as you will to have the details." Accordingly, after breakfast Hector related at much greater length the story that he had told the governor of the manner in which the mission had been carried out.
"Ma foi!" the colonel said, "I would rather have faced a battery than swum those moats in such weather.

Well, gentlemen, I think that you will agree with me that Monsieur de Turenne is fortunate in having so brave and enterprising an officer on his staff." The officers cordially assented.
"I wonder that you did not enter the citadel and stay there till the convoy arrived." "In the first place, colonel, I had received no orders to do so, and the general might require me for other service.