Beyond asking a question now and then, Turenne remained silent until he had brought it to a conclusion.
"I have never heard a story that interested me more," he said, "and I do not know which to admire more, your ingenuity in planning this affair or the hardihood and courage with which you carried it out.

Even had there been no enemy to get through, the adventure of letting yourself down by a rope from the housetop and then from the battlements, swimming three moats, crossing the river in such terrible weather, and finally making your way to Chivasso in your frozen clothes, is no slight feat of endurance.

The service that you have rendered is a great one, the manner in which you have carried it out is worthy of the highest praise, and I shall at once make out your commission as captain.

You are still a year behind me," he added with a smile, "but if you go on in this way, you bid fair to obtain a regiment as soon as I did.

You have nearly four years to do it in.