"Ah, yes--Jim. It was the Prince who bade me come down and thank you for saving that mare, and it was only when I heard your friend mention Carne that I recognised you. Monsieur----?" to the Prince, who addressed some remark to him in French, to which he laughingly replied, and then turned again to Jim. "His Highness says he would like to see you cleaned up, and invites you to his table to-night--both of you, if you can come. I suppose you can fig out all right?" Jim saluted Prince Napoleon and bowed. "It is a great honour," he said. "I'll find Jack, sir, and we'll fig out all right." "Eight o'clock, then. We're camped over there for the night. Any one will show you the Prince's quarters." And the two horsemen saluted generally and galloped away. "You're in luck, old boy," said George. "Dining with princes and big-pots. Who's the other? He talks uncommonly good English for a Frenchman." "My father," said Jim quietly. "Your---- Good Lord! Well, I---- Yes, of course, now I remember." "All the same," said Jim, "princes are not much in my line, and I'd just as soon he hadn't asked me." "Man alive!" said Ralph, with exuberance. "Why, I'd give my little finger for the chance." "And where's old Jack?" asked George. "Up on the hill there behind the town." "And where do we go?" "You stop the night here and get on to Devna to-morrow. It's about twenty miles up-country." Jack was mightily astonished when Jim gave him his news, and showed no modest reluctance in accepting the invitation. "It's always interesting to meet people like that," he said. "Is he like the Emperor?" "He's not like his pictures. More like the first Emperor, I should say. But he seemed pleasant enough." "And our paternal?" "He was all right. They seemed on very good terms with one another." "And he really is as big a man as he led us to believe that night?" "Why, yes, he seemed so. Did you doubt it?" And so, all in their best, they duly presented themselves at the Prince's quarters a few minutes before eight, Jack, in his modest Engineer uniform, feeling somewhat overshadowed by Jim's gorgeous Hussar trappings. "By Jove! but don't they know how to make themselves at home!" said Jack, as they came in sight of the handsome tent, with a great green bower made of leafy branches in front and an enclosure of the same all round it. The sentries passed them in at once, and their father came out from the tent and met them with cordial, outstretched hands. He held both their hands for a moment, and looked from one to the other. "Jack is the Engineer, and Jim is the Hussar, and both of you very creditable Carrons. We must get to know one another better, my boys. The coming campaign should afford us plenty of opportunities." "Is there to be a campaign, then, sir?" asked Jack. "We'd about given up all hopes of it." "Oh, we're not through yet by any means," smiled the Colonel.