He does not mind plain speaking on our part and, if in the humour, will talk with us much more familiarly than he would do to a Prussian officer." In a few minutes the bell in the next room sounded.

Lindsay went in.
"Are the horses at the door ?" "Yes, marshal." "Then we will mount at once.

I told the colonel of the 3rd that I should be at the barracks by twelve o'clock, unless the king wanted me on his business." Fergus had already put on his helmet, and he and Lindsay followed Keith downstairs.

In the courtyard were the horses, which were held by orderlies.
"That is yours, Fergus," Keith said.

"It has plenty of bone and blood, and should carry you well for any distance." Fergus warmly thanked the marshal for the gift.