Their so close intimacy will not be wondered at when it is known that those three officers had all come in together with Emmanuel the Conqueror.

Those three young captains had done splendid service, each at the head of his own battalion, in the days of the invasion and the conquest of Mansoul, and they had all had their present titles, and privileges, and lands, and offices, patented to them on the strength of their past services.

The Captain Credence had all along been the confidential aide-de-camp and secretary of the Prince.

Indeed, the Prince never called Captain Credence a servant at all, but always a friend.

The Prince had always conveyed his mind about all Mansoul's matters first to Captain Credence, and then that confidential captain conveyed whatever specially concerned God's-peace and Good-hope to those excellent and trusty soldiers.