King of France, eager to terminate the contest, had resolved to lend his personal assistance towards doing so: and, that having marched from Paris with the design of sitting down before Hennebon, he had, when within a short distance of it, heard of the advances which Louis was making towards the final reduction of Le Conquet, and, therefore, turning aside from the route, gone on to this latter place, thinking that its capture would facilitate that of the former.

On his arrival, he found that that which he intended to have furthered, was already accomplished. De Cadoudal, seeing it was utterly impossible, on account of the dilapidated state of the ramparts, to hold out longer: had sent word that he was ready to capitulate; and had actually retired into the Keep, with the design of making the best terms he could with the enemy. These were far from advantageous:-he and all the soldiery were to remain prisoners of war,to be released only by a ransom, which, usually, at least, was rated at a year's income of the captive's estate.

VOL. III.

K

The castle of Le Conquet being isolated, that is, there being no, or few, houses around it, and but barely affording accommodation for the troops which captured it; the King contented himself with pitching his tents in a plain conveniently situated at a small distance thence, where he enjoyed the advantage of being defended in the rear by the marshy and salt water lake, known by the name of Landevan.

There were none present who, hearing this account, were not struck with consternation, both at the loss of Le Conquet, and at the unexpected arrival of the King's troops; or who did not look on these occurrences as a sad prognostic of the final event of the contest. The Count of Artois was the only one amid them who shewed no sign of sorrow at the relation. On the contrary, forgetting the general good of the cause he had come to uphold, in the unspeakable raptures he had so often anticipated, and now found himself on the very eve of tasting,-those of dying his sword in the blood of a detested foe,— he exclaimed,

"Now, then, God be praised, for he hath holp me more than I did hope!-Philip!-my long loved, honor'd, bosom friend, how do I pant to clasp thee!"

CHAPTER XVIII.

Ox a narrow strip of land, shooting forth to a distance of nearly three leagues into the sea, and which is known by the appellation of l'Isle de Conquet: anciently stood a fortress named after the peninsula on which it was placed, and called Le Château de le Conquet.

Situated high upon the defile which connected this almost island with the main land, and being surrounded on two sides by the ocean, the castle was considered, when in good repair, and well garrisoned, as almost impregnable; in truth, had it been defended by its full complement of men, Louis d'Espagne might have sate down before it for many months longer, without reaping much advantage from the siege.

But, unfortunately for the Countess of Montfort, the troops which she was able to spare for its defence would have been found barely sufficient to have manned a fortress of half its size; these, however, had done their best to make up, by valour, for a defect in number. They had well performed their duty, and de Cadoudal did not surrender till the battering ram had made so large a breach in the walls, as to render any further resistance an act of folly.

To recapture this place, and liberate the castellan and his brave soldiers, but, above all, to give freedom to the ladies who had so generously exposed their safety for the public benefit, was the first idea which occurred to almost every one present and to have effected this might not, perhaps, have been so extremely arduous an undertaking, as the enemy, by the very act of demolishing the walls, in order to make a passage for themselves, had afforded means of entrance to others.

Yet, to have retaken this fort, when Philip was encamped so near, would but have been to