It was night when we reached the outposts of the Prince de Condé's
camp, and we were stopped by a small body of soldiers, who demanded
the sign, which, of course, we could not give. Our errand was soon
explained, however, and we were led on into the camp, which was not
entrenched, nor, indeed, defended in any other way. It presented a
gay, mixed scene, where little regularity of any kind existed, except
in the lines of the tents, which resembled long streets when once one
had passed the skirts of the camp, where plenty of disorder was going
on. My followers and horses were left at the second guard, while I and
the merchants were led on foot through the canvass streets and squares
to the spot where the tent of the Prince de Condé was pitched. Though
certainly not a very convenient dwelling, It was divided into two
chambers, if not three, and we were detained in the outer one while
the prince was informed of our arrival.
The pride of arms and birth made me imagine that I should be called to
his presence immediately, though we found he was at supper; but I was
much disappointed, for the merchants were much more important people
at that moment in the eyes of the prince than any small leader like
myself, and they were ushered in immediately, while I remained
without, talking with one of the prince's attendants, who remained
sitting with me, as if in the antechamber.
The conference of the Protestant leader with the merchants seemed
interminably long, and the occasional laughter and merriment that I
heard made me think that the conversation was protracted after all
real business was over. At length, however, they came out, and I was
summoned into the presence of the prince, while Martin Vern, in
passing, said, "We will wait for you here."
I found the prince still seated at supper, with a man considerably
older than himself, though yet in the prime of life. Condé's
countenance was remarkably handsome; far more so, indeed, than his
figure; and there was in his eyes that sort of sparkling impetuosity
which well indicated the character of the man. He received me with a
smiling countenance, and made me take a seat near him, saying,
"It is always pleasant, Monsieur de Cerons, to receive new friends and
companions, but still more pleasant to receive one who bears back to
our camp an illustrious name, which has been too long banished from
the roll of arms. I take it for granted I speak to the son of that
Monsieur de Cerons who, just twenty years ago, distinguished himself
in the attack upon the forts at Boulogne, and, to the regret of the
whole army, fell upon the occasion. I grieve to say that I knew little
of him, for that was my first campaign, and I was not worthy of the
notice of so distinguished a soldier; but my friend, Monsieur
d'Andelot here, was his companion in many a well-fought field."
"I was indeed, young gentleman," said D'Andelot; "and, I must say, a
better soldier or a braver man never existed. You are very like him,
and, I trust, are as like him in character as you are in person."
"It is with the hope of proving that I am so, sir, that I come here,"
I replied; and, judging it more respectful to the distinguished
officers with whom I was speaking to say as little as possible, I
ceased there.
"I doubt not that you will completely fill his place among us,"
replied the prince, after a moment's thought. "Indeed, Monsieur de
Cerons, we have every reason to believe so, from the account these
good merchants have given us of your conduct on the road. You do not
know what an obligation you have laid upon us by bringing them safely
hither; for, on my faith and honour, I think, without their help, we
should not have been able to carry on the campaign: for, though very
one here fights for good-will, yet men must have food, and cannons and
arquebuses are poor contrivances without powder and shot. These
merchants tell us you have a troop with you, Monsieur de Cerons?"
I now evidently saw that it was the design of the prince to give me
notice, in a quiet, passing manner, that I was to expect no pay for my
services, and, at the same time, to ascertain with what views and
purposes I came.
"My troop is not a large one, my lord," I replied; "at present it
comprises but ten men. They are all, however, stout men-at-arms, and
have some experience; and I hope to increase my troop to double that
number. It is fit, my lord, however, that I should tell you that my
father left nothing but his sword; and it is needful to myself that I
should raise myself by arms, and to my men that I should be enabled to
maintain them by the sword."
"Ay," replied the prince, "I understand--make the horse feed the
horse. But it is somewhat difficult to know what to do. We cannot and
must not drive away such bands as yours, especially when led by such a
gentleman as yourself. As little can we expect them to range
themselves under any regular leader, when we have no pay whatever to
give them; and yet it is absolutely necessary that both I myself and
Monsieur de Coligny should put a stop to everything like
indiscriminate plunder. Were we not to do so, we should soon have the
whole country rising upon us."
"I am not one, my lord," I replied, "to wish that it should be
otherwise. All I wish is, that, in order to keep my men together, I
may have, as it were, a detached command of my own people under your
highness's commission, in order that, by fair war against the enemy in
arms, I may be enabled to maintain my troop and advance myself.
Neither the threshold of the cottage nor the hearth of the citizen
shall ever be invaded by my people. I only want permission to attack
the enemy whenever I can find occasion, and to cut off from him, as my
legitimate prize, whatever I can meet with."
"That is soon granted," replied the Prince de Condé, "if we understand
each other rightly. But what is that in your hand, Monsieur de Cerons?
It seems a letter."
"I had forgotten it, my lord," I said; "it is one addressed to your
highness on my behalf, I believe."
The prince took it and read it, and then turning with a smile to
D'Andelot, he said, "We shall have Stuart with us in less than ten
days; and he does more service, you know, than any ten besides. Now,
Monsieur de Cerons. My friend Stuart here has explained all your plans
more clearly than yourself; and, indeed, it is not always so easy to
explain one's self as to let another do it. I fear very much, however,
that you have attached yourself to the wrong side of the question, as
far as obtaining wealth, at least, is concerned. You shall have,
however, what seamen, I believe, call a roving commission; and on the
following terms, remember. During all marches, countermarches, and on
general service, you shall have the opportunity allowed you, as far as
possible, of doing as you please. At other times, such as the eve of a
general battle, the assault of a town, or any similar operation, you
shall render yourself into the camp on due notice given you. In short,
any special order given to you by me or by the Admiral de Coligny you
shall obey as strictly as any other soldier; but, at the times when
you are without any such orders, you shall not be called to account
for anything you do at your own hand; with these provisos, that you
shall neither commit, nor suffer to be committed by your people, any
outrage upon, or pillage of, the peasantry of the country, that you
shall neither exact contributions from villages, hamlets, or places
friendly or unarmed, nor permit any plunder in towns taken by
capitulation; and, in fact, shall only wage honourable war against
enemies with arms in their hands. Nor shall you receive money called
_pati_, or sufferance, from any persons whatsoever. On these
conditions, all prizes whatsoever captured by yourself shall be at
your own disposal, without claim or intervention from any persons
whatsoever. This is all that can be done for you, and, if it suits
you, it shall be done."
"It suits me perfectly, my lord," I replied; "I require nothing more;
and, as far as in me lies, will never be absent from my post when my
services may be wanted."
Some farther conversation ensued between the prince, D'Andelot, and
myself, in which a great many other matters were settled with regard
to my lodging in the camp, &c.; and, sending for his secretary, the
Prince de Condé gave orders for the commission to be drawn up, which
was immediately done, giving me authority to raise a company of fifty
men, and imbodying all the stipulations contained above.
As soon as I had received it I rose to depart; but D'Andelot, after
whispering for a moment to the prince, said, "It always gives an
officer great honour, Monsieur de Cerons, to begin his career in any
new service with some brilliant exploit. Now we propose to-morrow to
attack the breach at Angoulême, which has been made by our batteries
yesterday and to-day. Now the leading of this assault has been given
to Monsieur de Genissac; but we have no doubt that he will suffer you
to be his companion, if you choose to mount the breach among the first
along with your men. The breach is in the wall of what is called the
Park; but we will send Genissac to you in the course of to-morrow
morning. You will be supported by the regiment of Monsieur de
Corbouson; and you are to remember to obey promptly the orders you
receive from that quarter."
It may well be supposed that, eager as I was to distinguish myself, I
caught at the offer without hesitation. In this instance I had not the
slightest fears in regard to my own inexperience, for I knew that I
had nothing to do but to fight with courage and determination; and,
having ascertained the hour the assault was likely to take place, I
retired to seek the quarters assigned to me, which were in one of the
little suburbs, as I had informed the prince that I had yet no tents
with me.
In the anteroom I found the worthy merchants, and with them returned
to the spot where I had left my men. As we went, Martin Vern informed
me that he was to return to Bordeaux early on the following morning,
and asked if he could execute any commission for me in that city, from
which he was about to return again in ten or twelve days. He said
nothing more at that time, but accompanied me to the little auberge in
the suburb, after I had lodged my troopers as I had been directed. I
found the hall of the inn, as may well be conceived, a scene of
confusion almost indescribable. At first it seemed to me that
everybody was talking, everybody was singing, everybody was drinking,
and everybody was snuffing the candles, at the same time. Eyes
swimming with excitement or dropping with sleepiness, faces heated and
flushed with drink, mouths wide open with oaths, vociferations, or
songs, and outstretched arms, crossing each other in various
directions, were to be seen on every side, while the din and uproar
were absolutely deafening.
The scene did not seem to strike the merchants as much as it did me;
but Martin Vern turned out of that room again almost as soon as he had
entered it, saying, "We shall doubtless find less confusion somewhere
else;" and, after looking into the kitchen, in hopes that, protected
by the awful genius of the culinary art, that place might be found
somewhat more quiet, he mounted the stairs, and walked from bedroom to
bedroom, which had all been turned into eating or drinking rooms, and
which were, in most instances, crammed to the very doors.
At length we came to one large room, which might contain, perhaps, not
more than twenty people, ranged at different tables, and enjoying
themselves more soberly. The secret of this was, that the tenants were
all inferior officers, and the common soldiery judged it more
expedient to pursue their potations in other rooms. The officers, too,
might perhaps themselves desire a little quiet; and I remarked that
several of them looked up and scanned us closely, as if to satisfy
themselves that the intruders were likely to be more quiet and orderly
than the parties assembled in other places.
There was one table vacant, near a window, at the very farther end of
the room, and at that we seated ourselves, glad to be as far as
possible from the general roar that rushed up the stairs and through
the passages. A boy, who was running from table to table with the
activity of a marmoset, came up to inquire what we wished for supper;
and, as soon as he had left us, Master Vern leaned across the table,
and asked me,
"Now, Monsieur de Cerons, have you no commands for Bordeaux? for I
have many things to do, and, perhaps, may not have the opportunity of
speaking to you to-morrow."
After thinking for a moment or two, I replied that I feared there was
no commission that I could give; that I longed, indeed, to hear of my
relations at the Chateau de Blancford, but did not know how to compass
it.
"That is easily done, Monsieur de Cerons," said the merchant; "I am
going to the Chateau de Blancford myself. There is scarcely a noble in
the land that we merchants have not something to do with. The baron
must have reached the chateau by this time, for he was to leave Paris
in three weeks after we did. Come, come, Monsieur de Cerons," he said,
seeing that I hesitated, "I have many a time remarked, since you were
with us, that something weighs upon your mind. We owe you a great
deal, not only for good service, but for kindness. Sit down and write
a few lines to your friends, and we will find means that you shall
have an answer. Relieve your mind, my friend; relieve your mind by
words. Depend upon it, the best remedy for a heavy heart is to cast
off part of the load upon paper."
"But I have no means of writing here," I said, "and fear it will be
difficult to procure them."
"What! a merchant without paper and ink?" cried Martin Vern, opening a
pocket in the lining of his cloak, and taking out all the requisites:
"That would never do. There, Monsieur de Cerons, write, write, and I
will take care it shall reach its address."
I took the paper and pen that he gave me, and, with the first impulse
of my heart, wrote a few lines to my cousin Louise. The terms in which
I spoke were precisely such as I should have used before my departure.
I bade her not forget me, nor the affection which had existed between
us ever since our childhood. I bade her recall me to the remembrance
of her brothers and La Tour. I told her that I should never forget or
cease to love her and them; and I assured her that nothing but
absolute necessity, and the fear of giving them all bitter pain, would
have led me to quit them without bidding them adieu, as I had done.
This led me to speak of my situation at the time, and I told her that
I had met with much greater success than I could have expected; that I
was already at the head of a small band: and that I was to lead, in
company with another, the assault upon Angoulême on the following
morning. A few words of affection and kindness succeeded, and, having
folded and sealed the letter, I put the address upon it, and gave it
into the hands of Martin Vern.
He looked at the address, and when he saw the name, a sober and
somewhat melancholy smile came over his face, and, putting it up
carefully, he said, "It shall go safe."
Shortly after this the head of Moric Endem made its appearance at the
door, and, seeing me seated at the opposite table, he entered the room
and came across towards me. Ere he was half way to the table, however,
three or four of the different officers who were dining at the tables
around started up, and one of them exclaimed, "Why, Moric Endem! what,
you old comrade, is it you come back to join us? and looking fat and
well-feathered too."
"Ay, my good friends; ay, ay," said Moric, "here I am; but I am in
leading-strings, my boys, I am in leading-strings. I'm baby Moric now,
and there's my nurse--my captain, I mean to say; so I must go and
speak to him, for I have a word for his ear."
"If he seeks to fill his purse," said one, looking at me across the
room, "you're the man for him; for you could always fill a purse, but
never keep one."
"Too true, good friend, too true," replied Moric, advancing towards
me; "but I will do better this time."
They all shook their heads, however, with laugh; and Moric came on and
sat down beside me. He had lost no time in pursuing his avocations,
and informed me that he had already seen and spoken with nearly twenty
of his old comrades, who were hanging about the camp and seeking for
employment. They were rather more difficult, however, in their choice
than those which I had already enlisted; for not one of them would
serve with a leader who had never served at all.
"We must make up to-morrow, sir," said Endem, "for your idleness
hitherto. It answered no purpose my telling them that you would do
this or do that; the answer always was--Let us see him fight. So
to-morrow, at the assault, we must eat fire and brimstone, to show
what sort of stuff we are made of."
"Rather a hot breakfast, Master Moric," I replied; "but, nevertheless,
I don't think I shall find my appetite fail."
This conversation had been carried on in a low tone, but it had caught
the ears of the merchants nevertheless; and one of them asked me at
what time it was intended to storm the breach. I replied that I really
did not know, as I had not received my orders yet, but supposed that
it would not be late; and Martin Vern, in reply, intimated his
determination to wait and see the result before he departed. Soon
after this I retired to the little cottage which had been appointed as
quarters for myself and all my men; and, having given what orders I
thought necessary, and seen that the horses had been well fed and put
under shelter, I threw myself down upon some straw, which Andriot had
prepared for me in one corner of the hovel, and in a few minutes was
fast asleep.
I was awake by daylight on the following morning, was up, and had made
a soldier's brief toilet, as well as armed myself completely, before
five o'clock. Luckily it happened that I was so, for in a few minutes
afterward I was visited by a gay-looking youth, who introduced himself
as the Captain Genissac, and who told us that in an hour we were to
mount the breach together. He looked at me somewhat superciliously
from head to foot; and though I felt that I could have broken him
through the middle over my knee as a boy breaks a stick, his cool
scrutiny annoyed and discomposed me. We talked over what was to be
done for some time; and, urging me to hasten my movements, he went to
take his station at the head of the storming party. I hurried after at
all speed, followed by my little band; and getting out of the hamlet,
and passing through the middle of the tents towards the battery which
had effected the breach, a fine, a gay, and an interesting sight was
presented, which remains as much fixed upon my memory, in consequence
of the beauty of the scene, as from being the first military effort of
any consequence in which I ever took a part.
The whole army was turned out in the open space between the camp and
the city; and about five or six hundred yards in advance of the line
was the small battery which had effected a very insufficient breach in
the wall. It was still firing, as it had been since the break of day:
and a light wind blew the wreaths of smoke down into the hollow which
ran towards the Charente, enveloping the base of the hill on which
Angoulême stands, while out of the white uncertain mist thus created
started forth clear the town of Angoulême, with all its manifold
towers and spires. The sun was shining brightly as he rose upon the
glittering line of our cavalry and infantry, variously armed, and with
many a cornet and a pennon among them: while the rich and peaceful
slopes and rises, the clear blue sky, the bright sunshine, and the
soft murmur of the autumnal air, contrasted strangely and strikingly
with the camp behind us, the long line of iron-clad soldiery in the
front, the occasional thunder of our own artillery, and the flashes
that burst from time to time from the walls of Angoulême.
Some way in front of the general line appeared a small body of
infantry, with Genissac at their head; and behind him, a little in
advance of the other forces, an entire infantry regiment, supported by
a strong force of cavalry. Between that body and the little _peloton_
of Genissac was a group of officers and gentlemen, with one or two led
horses, apparently waiting for their riders. As I passed by, my eye
rested for a moment upon the well-known D'Andelot; while another
officer, considerably older in appearance, but with a fine, open
countenance, whom I took to be the far-famed Admiral de Coligny, sat
beside him, on a strong horse, receiving from time to time
communications from different persons who rode up. D'Andelot's visor
was up, and, as I passed, he noticed me with an inclination of the
head, and then, turning to the admiral, pointed me out to him. Coligny
immediately beckoned me towards him; and, ordering my men to march on
and take the order from Monsieur de Genissac, I advanced to the side
of the admiral's horse.
"I knew your father well, Monsieur de Cerons," said Coligny, "and my
seeing his son here this day gives me the pleasant expectation of soon
seeing him behave as his father would have done on a similar occasion.
I grieve that we have not the presence of your cousin, Monsieur de
Blancford; but his faith has been supposed to be wavering for some
time. I must not detain you, however, for here comes the prince, and
the word will be given in a moment."
I bowed, and then advanced immediately to the side of Genissac, who, I
found, had drawn up my men with his own very fairly and very
skilfully. In order to take advantage of some hollows in the ground,
we were to advance six abreast, three of my men and three of his, with
the two leaders at the head. As the whole of the party was composed of
about a hundred men he had filled up the space behind, where my scanty
band ended, by his own troops; and, placing himself close to me, he
said,
"Now, Monsieur de Cerons, you and I will keep near together, as I may
have something to say to you when we are near the breach. I wish they
would send us the word to advance, for this long expectation dulls the
men's spirits."
At that moment, however, an officer gave the word to march, while the
battery opened a sharp fire upon the breach. In the first instance we
had to descend some way, which we did with considerable rapidity, but
not so fast as far to outstrip the regiment behind, who, as soon as
they were within shot, opened a smart fire of small arms against the
enemy. From the bottom of the valley we had now, however, to ascend to
the Park; and, the moment we began to do so, one of the hottest fires
of musketry I ever saw was poured upon us from the breach and the
neighbouring walls. One of Genissac's men went down; and one of mine
staggered from a wound in the shoulder, but regained his footing and
kept on with the rest. I was somewhat surprised that we did not
advance more rapidly, and said, "Let us hasten forward! Let us hasten
forward! The men will soon be out of the fire."
Genissac gave no order; and, at the same time, a shot, passing between
him and me, carried away a part of my casque, and went through the
head of one of the men behind.
"Don't be too hot, don't be too hot," he said, in a minute after, when
he had got so near that I could see the features of the men in the
breach. "I am only ordered to make a reconnoissance, but to retreat
immediately if the breach is not practicable."
"But I was ordered to storm," I replied; "and the breach, though
small, is deep, and seems to me quite practicable."
"Have with you, have with you, then," he said, "if you are so eager."
But what we had said had been heard by those behind us; and, though we
had been still advancing while we spoke, the men began to waver. It
was a critical moment; and, waving my sword over my head, I cried
aloud, "To the breach! To the breach!"
My own men took it up, shouting, "To the breach! To the breach!" His
men followed, and, dashing forward with jealous rivalry of each other,
we climbed the height, and though, as we came nearer, the shots of the
enemy told terribly among us, rushed up furiously to the foot of the
wall. There was an immense deal of broken rubbish, earth, and stones
to be passed, which had been cast down by the fire of the battery, and
a tremendous discharge of musketry welcomed us at the top; but still
we rushed on, while the regiment which had advanced to support us now
caught the spirit of the assault, and, doubling its pace, crossed the
valley and charged up the hill. On we pressed, as hard as we could go,
with the stones and earth slipping away under our feet, all
staggering, some falling, and only thankful that the dense smoke of
the enemy's fire rolled into the breach, and prevented them from
taking any very certain aim.
When first we arrived at the foot of the wall the breach was crowded
by arquebusiers; but they began to fall back as we climbed over the
piles of rubbish, and when we were near the top only five or six men
remained, of whom one rushed down several steps to meet me, aiming a
pistol at me as he came, and firing within three paces. Striking my
cuirass on the left side obliquely, the shot glanced off and entered
my arm a little above the elbow; but it was a mere flesh wound, and
only inconvenient. A blow of my heavy horse sword, however, dashed my
adversary's casque down upon his head, broke the fastenings, and
brought him on his knee; another blow, before he could ward it off,
struck the helmet from his head, and, at the same time, inflicted a
deep wound upon his forehead; and as he called out that he would
surrender--indeed, he had no choice--I passed him back to the hands of
Moric Endem, who followed me close, without seeing anything farther
than that he was a young man of good mien. Genissac was now a step or
two before me; but, rushing up, I was by his side in a moment, and in
another instant we stood together at the top of the breach.
The interior of what was called the Park--a large, open space, forming
a sort of Place d'Armes--was now before us, and, to my surprise, I
beheld, drawn up on either side, and ready to charge at the moment we
descended, a large body of men-at-arms, with their lances levelled,
and supported by a considerable force of pike-men and arquebusiers on
foot. Our men were rushing up, however, one by one, as fast as they
could climb, to our support; Moric Endem, having passed on his
prisoner, was close behind us; another slight-looking youth, armed
only with a close-covering casque and cuirass, was upon my right,
struggling up with difficulty over a steep part of the ruin; and
giving him my hand, unfortunately for himself, I drew him up in a
moment: Genissac was a little farther on the same side, with four or
five of his followers, and, seeing the other infantry regiment coming
up, I thought it not at all improbable that we might be able to force
an entrance, notwithstanding the strength of the enemy in the Park.
All this was soon done; but I saw, at the very same instant, the
regiment behind halt, a small party of horsemen gallop up towards us
from our own army at full speed, and the arquebusiers from the Park
open a sudden and tremendous fire upon the breach. Three men among us
fell at once. Genissac, standing upon a high point of the broken wall,
received a shot in his head and fell back, rolling over and over down
the heaps of rubbish, writhing in the agonies of death; one of his men
fell forward severely wounded, and a shot took the poor youth I had
just helped up, and, entering his right side, laid him prostrate
across one of my feet.
Still my own followers were coming rapidly up, several of Genissac's
people were making their way rapidly to the top; and though it was
impossible to face the force in the Park, now that the other regiment
had halted, it was quite possible to effect a lodgment on the breach.
Turning, therefore, to those who were following, and to the group of
officers who had now ridden up to the foot of the wall, and were
shouting up loudly to me, though I could not hear a word they said,
from the noise of the small arms, I called to them to roll me up
gabions and barrels, for that we could certainly effect a lodgment. My
words were passed down by those who followed: but D'Andelot, whom I
now saw at the head of the officers, shook his clinched fist at me,
and shouted to me, as I found, to come down and retreat. The words
were passed up to me, and with much regret, I own, I prepared to obey.
"We must retreat, Moric," I said. "We are commanded to retreat!"
But at that moment I heard a voice, which I thought I had heard
before, from the casque of the young man who had fallen beside me, and
who exclaimed, "Oh, do not leave me here!"
It would have been cruelty to do so, even had it been more difficult
and dangerous to rescue him than it was; and, therefore, taking him up
in my arms, I carried him down to the spot where D'Andelot stood, and
to which several horses had been brought by this time for the purpose
of removing the killed and wounded.
"You seem perfectly determined to get yourself killed, Monsieur de
Cerons," said D'Andelot. "We only intended a reconnoissance, and poor
Genissac has suffered for his folly in changing it into an assault."
"My orders were to storm, sir," I said, "and I have done no more than
I was directed to do."
"We were wrong! we were wrong, Monsieur de Cerons!" said that great
commander. "We wanted to try you: but Genissac had full orders how to
act, and he should have obeyed them. Now take a horse, put yourself at
the head of his men too, get them in order, and make the best of your
retreat. You are pretty well sheltered here, but you will find the
fire somewhat hot in the valley. Don't mind using your legs there, for
you have shown sufficiently that it is not bullets you are afraid of."
I only paused to tell Moric to place the lad I was carrying on a
horse, and take him carefully to the camp, and then obeyed the orders
of D'Andelot. The matter was now a mere affair of discipline; the men
followed my commands with alacrity; and, choosing the direction which
seemed most sheltered from the fire of the garrison, I led them on
without loss, and with but little haste and confusion, till, passing
the battery which had effected the breach, I took up the same position
with them which we had occupied in the morning before the assault
began.
I acted altogether as I had learned from the memoirs of various
distinguished knights and officers it was right and proper to do on
such occasions; and, the moment I had reached the same spot from which
we had started, I made the men wheel round again and face the city, as
if for a new assault. They were all picked soldiers, and they did it
with promptitude and precision; but in the troubled state into which
the whole art of warfare had fallen in that day, this little
evolution, which never would have been neglected in former times
except in case of a complete defeat, excited the surprise of
everybody; and a loud shout of applause burst from the regiments
around. At the same time, the Prince de Condé, with the admiral and
his companions, moved slowly forward to meet D'Andelot, who was now
riding up the slope. After conversing with him for a few minutes, they
all advanced towards me, and various kind and complimentary things
were said, of which I only remember now the words of the Prince de
Condé.
"We shall take care, Monsieur de Cerons," he said, "how we put you
upon dangerous services any more; for your life will henceforth be so
much more precious to us than it seems to you, that we must not suffer
you to risk it without much need."
They then inquired closely what I had seen within the breach, which I
explained to them as well as I could, expressing my opinion that by a
strong effort the town might have been taken. Their better judgment
and greater experience, however, showed them that such was not the
case; and orders were immediately given for opening a battery in
another place, on the heights of St. Ozani. As soon as this was
determined, and orders given to that effect, the men were allowed to
retire to their quarters; and I hurried down to the hovel assigned me
in the hamlet, to see what had become of Moric Endem, my prisoner, and
the wounded youth, for whom I felt a considerable degree of anxiety.