him critically.

"You make a very good figure," he said, "and better, I can tell
you, than I did at your age, for I was but weakly, while you are
well grown and strong. Among your other exercises you have not
neglected the use of your sword. 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. You can present him to me when you return from
the war.' You know the cardinal by sight, I suppose?"

"Yes, general, I have seen him many times."

"He is a great man," Turenne said thoughtfully, rather as if
speaking to himself than to Hector; "the greatest that France has
ever known -- he is the soul of France. It is well, indeed, that