conflict. She emerged triumphant with her territories largely
increased, while Austria was crushed and humiliated, and Spain
was dethroned from her position as the dominating power of Europe.
The success of France was greatly due to the fact that her armies
were led by two of the greatest military geniuses of all times,
viz., Conde and Turenne, men of very different types, but equally
great as commanders, and equally at the time of which we are speaking
devoted to the cause of France. Both were men of extraordinary
personal courage, and although one was as prudent and careful of
the lives of his troops as the other was impetuous and careless
at what cost he won his victories, they worked together with a
harmony that could have hardly been expected among men so differently
constituted. Although, in the subsequent wars of the Fronde they
took different sides, their friendship, except during a short
period of alienation, was never shaken, and their admiration for
each other's genius never abated.

Yours sincerely,

G.A. HENTY



CHAPTER I: A STROKE OF GOOD FORTUNE


A mounted officer, followed by two orderlies, was proceeding at a
brisk trot from Paris to St. Denis, in October, 1639, when he came
upon a large party of boys, who, armed with sticks, were advancing
in something like military order against a wall on the top of a