"At last, with many thousands more, I
found my way into the great. City, and there
I remained throughout the siege. Those
were days of horror! While the defenders
were busy fighting, the outcasts of the earth
came out of their dark dens and filled the
streets, shrieking for bread ; they were as
thick and loathsome as vermin crawling on
a corpse ; and when they were denied, mur-
der was often done. Ah, God ! they were
mad ! I have seen a mother, maniacal with
starvation, dash out her babe's brains on the
pavement of the street! Well, it was soon
over, and I saw the great allied armies march
in. Our people cheered and embraced them
as they entered — many fell upon their knees
and blessed them — and some strewed
flowers."

" Canaille ! *' hissed the Corporal between
his teeth, which he ground together viciously.
I90 THE SHADOW OF THE SWORD.
" Poor wretches, they knew no better, and
if they were wrong, God will not blame them.
But all this is not what I wished to tell you ;
it is something which will interest you more.
