Then, again, there was Saverne.

See how he fought there, and stormed the place when even the Swedes, who are good soldiers, had failed.

I think he is going to be the greatest of our captains." "Turenne is only a learner in the art of war," the other said gravely.
"I think he has learnt more than any of the rest," the boy said boldly; "and all the soldiers love him more than any of the other generals, for he takes such care of them, and does not treat them as if they were dirt under his feet, only meant to obey orders, and go and get killed when told." "You have heard him very much over praised," the officer said quietly.
"I think that he does his best; but he is a young man yet, not older than I am.

His advance has been due to fortune rather than to his own merits." "I don't think so," the boy said sturdily.

"Do you think that he would be a lieutenant general at twenty-eight, and that all the soldiers would speak of him as they do, if it were only fortune?
Look how he captured Landrecies and Solre, and drove the Austrians back from Maubeurge, and aided the Duke of Weimar to thrash them at Weilenweir, and stormed the main fort of Breisach! He has been successful in all his enterprises, and now it is said he is to command in Italy, where things have been going on badly.