“Ah, true,” returned the young man, taking his seat at the rude naked table which bore their meal.  “I had quite forgotten my appetite-mais ca viendra en mangent, n’est-ce pas?” and he looked at the young girl.

“Plait-il, monsieur?”

“Tais toi ma fille—­ce n’est pas a toi qu’on parle,” gruffly remarked her father.

“The old boy is becoming savage at your attentions,” remarked Villiers, “you will get the girl into a scrape.”

“Bah,” ejaculated De Courcy, “Well but of the General.  Who think you was the bearer of the flag.  No other than that fine looking fellow, Colonel—­what’s his name, who came to us the other day.”

“Indeed, singular enough—­what said the General to him, on meeting?” asked Henry Grantham.

“‘Well, Colonel,’ said he smiling, ’you see I have kept my word.  This is the day on which I promised that we should meet again.’

“What answer did he make?” demanded Villiers.

“’True, General, and most happily have you chosen.  But one day sooner and we should have dared your utmost in our strong-hold:  Today,’ and he spoke in a tone of deep mortification, ’we have not resolution left to make a show even in vindication of our honor.  In a word, I am here to conduct you to those who will offer terms derogatory at once to our national character, and insulting to our personal courage.’

“The General,” pursued De Courcy, “respecting the humiliated manner of the American, again bowed, but said nothing—­After a moment of pause, the latter stated that the Governor and Commander of the fortress were waiting to receive and confer with him as to the terms of capitulation.  Whether the General had calculated upon this want of nerve in his antagonist, I know not, but on the communication of the intelligence I remarked a slight curl upon his lip, that seemed to express the triumph of one whose ruse had taken.  This might or might not be, however, for as you are all aware, I pretend to very little observation except (and he turned his eye upon the daughter of their host,) where there is a pretty girl in the case.  All I know is, that, attended by Stanley, he has accompanied the flag into the town, and that, having no immediate occasion for my valuable services, he sent me back to give to Colonel St. Julian the order you have heard.

“How vary extraordinary, to soorrender the ceetadel without firing a shoat,” said Cranstoun, who ever ready to fight as to eat, seemed rather disappointed at the issue, if one might judge from the lengthened visage with which he listened to these tidings.

“Singular enough,” added Captain Granville.  “Did the Colonel hint at any cause for this sudden change of purpose, De Courcy.”

“Oh, by the way, yes, I had forgotten.  He stated with a sneer of contempt, that he believed the nerves of the Governor had been shaken by the reports conveyed to him of the destructive nature of the fire from the batteries, the centre of which especially had so completely got the range that every shot from it came into the fortress with fearful effect.  One point blank in particular, had entered the gate which was open, and killed and wounded four officers of rank, who were seated at breakfast in one of their barrack rooms, while a second had carried off no less than three surgeons.”