nd I am content."

I tried to reply, but my lips were dumb; I could only press his hand in
silence.

Like a wise general Conde was meanwhile seizing and strengthening every
defensible post. His men pierced the houses for musketry, raised new
obstacles everywhere, heightened the barricades, and dragged the big
guns into the open space. Every moment's delay on our part rendered
the position more formidable, and we listened anxiously for the tramp,
tramp, of our brave infantry.

"Can't we take the place at a rush?" asked one man impetuously, and
Raoul looked at him with a smile.

"You do not know the Faubourg St. Antoine," said he; "I do. I was here
when Lorraine's troops put up the barricades. Even with our infantry
we shall be too weak to force a passage."

"Bah!" cried a listener impatiently, "there are three broad streets
leading to the gate, and we can have our choice of them. Then Conde
will be cornered."

"Every house is a fortress," said Raoul, "and a dozen narrow streets
lead into each avenue. Turenne will attack when the infantry arrives,
but with any other general I should call it madness to move without La
Ferte's artillery."

My comrade's reputation for reckless bravery was so well established
that his words produced some impression, though it was tantalising to
wait there while the enemy worked with all their might to render the
Faubourg impregnable. Presently, a thundering cheer announced the
arrival of our infantry, and we looked anxiously at Turenne to discover
if he would risk the hazard of the die. A very rash general would have
flung us at the barricades without a thought; a weak one would have
hesitated too long; what would Turenne do?

Sitting his horse calmly at the head of his troops, he summoned his
principal officers around him, and explained his intentions. We could
only guess at his words, but very soon the group broke up, the officers
galloped to their stations, commands were issued: first one section,
then another of the troops moved slowly forward, and we became aware
that Turenne had resolved to attack without waiting for his artillery.

It has been mentioned that three principal streets led to the open
space before the gate, and along these avenues of death we fought our
way in three divisions. Raoul and I accompanied Turenne in the centre.
Foot by foot, almost inch by inch, we advanced beneath a hail of
bullets. Men fell fast, but the survivors struggled on undauntedl