Bonnie Prince Charlie

passed along the line Ronald saw among the gaily dressed throng of officers riding behind the king and Marshal Saxe the Marquis de Recambo

the second time, Ronald saw that the two noblemen were looking scrutin

inquired after him, and had sent him word that if he won the battle he would not forget the promise he

may have a greater opportunity of distinguishing himself than he would with the regime

l that he can only occasionally sit on his horse. Nothing but his indomitable courage sustains him

troops under Marshal Noailles, and the rest of the army now moved forward to the posts allotted to them. The English army were close at hand, and it was certain that the battle would be fought o

any news f

o encourage those who heard him. He remarked, for instance, that since the days of St. Louis the French had never gained a decisive success over the English,

s a gene

s our right, with the fortified bridge securing our communication, and the village of Antoin resting on the river. Along our front from Antoin to Fontenoy is a narrow and difficult valley. Our left is covered by the wood of Barre, where a strong redoubt has been constructed; and the whole of the position is fortified with breastworks and

ng as the French remained in their all but impregnable position; but presently the columns of the enemy were seen advancing. Ronald had ridden up to the litter on whic

emy's approaching ranks was obtained. It could soon be seen that the Dutch troops, who on the English right were advancing to the attack, were moving against the villages of Antoin and Fontenoy. A strong force, headed, as was kn

d in a short time fell back out of range of fire. On the English right General Ingoldsby penetrated some distance into the wood of Barre, and then fell back again as the Dut

n front of Fontenoy. The ground was so broken that the troops were unable t

d unshaken and calm the great column moved forward. The cannon which they dragged along by hand opened against Fontenoy and the redo

the column. A tremendous volley flashed along the English line, shattering the ranks of the French guard. There was a moment's fierce fi

re. They advanced in the most perfect order. The sergeants calmly raised or depressed the soldiers' muskets to direct the fire; each vacant plac

dy volleys and regular lines of bayonets. Ronald and other officers were sent off to bring up the cavalry, but in vain did these strive to break the serried column. One regiment after anoth

men were to be victorious over the whole French army. Marshal Saxe begged the king to retire with the dauphin across the bridge of Calonne while he did what he could to retrieve the battle, but the king refused to leave the f

e, and were moving forward towards the bridge of Calonne, when the whole of the French artillery, which had, by the advice of the Duke of Richelieu, been brought up, opened fire on the English column. At the same moment the French regi

men could not withstand fifty thousand. Their ranks were twice broken by the Irish, but twice their officers rallied them; until at last, when

d the slightest assistance from their cowardly allies the victory must have been theirs. As it was, although unsuccessful, the glory and honour of the day rested with them, rather than with the vic

in close quarters of the English; and after the battle was over Marshal Saxe presented to the king several of his staff who had most distinguished themselves, and calli

d family, who is a volunteer in the Scottish Dragoons, and has rendered great service

king said graciously, "and I charge the marsha

ish column. Major Munro had been killed, the colonel severely wounded, and a number of officers had fallen. Ronald went about among the

ve given me many a fright today as I watched you ga

, Malcolm? I di

aking a bolt for it, for I thought it was all over with us. How that column did fight! I have been in many a battle, but I never saw anything like it, it was grand; and if it hadn't been for the Irish Brigade, I think that they would have beaten the whole French army. B

presenting me to the king?

rd of it. I mean about that old rascal you

him? I hav

lew him instantly. He was not thirty yards from the tree when I saw him knocked over. He is quite dead, I can assure you, for when the others move

was the cruel persecutor of my parents, and did his best to get me removed. There is but one obstacle now to obtai

ere will be any desire whatever to go out of our way to seek another engagement with them. The king is sure to go back to Paris at once, where he will be received with enthusiasm. Marshal Saxe will probably follow as soon as Tournay has fallen. I should advise you, therefore, to get leave from the

morning, having obtained leave of absence from the

emorial he had asked her to write to the king, begging that she might be allowed to leave the convent; but she refused to agree to his wishes to meet her, bidding

eceive good tidings. After a short stay at Tours, Ronald and Malcolm returned to Paris, where a series of brilliant fetes in honour of the victory of Fontenoy were in preparation. Tournay had surrendered a few days af

torious in every battle in which England and France had met as enemies, the citizens of Paris organized a succession of brilliant fetes, which were responded to by entertainments of all kinds at Versailles. The Scottish Dragoons were still at the front; but Colonel Hume had been brought to Paris, as it would be some

e you,

s were as gentle with me as if I had been a child, and I scarce felt a jar the whole distance. What I have got to do now is to lie quiet, and the doctor promises me that in six weeks' time I shall be fit to mount a horse again. M

the king himself, at that moment the most popular man in France. Hitherto, as a Protestant and a foreigner, Maurice of Saxony had been regarded by many wi

e was now able to walk, the excitement of the battle and the satisfaction of the victory having enabled him partially to shake off the dis

ld. "Where have you been? I have not seen you since the day when you galloped

bearer of a message from him, thanking you for the kind inquiries as to his wo

onders for me as well as for France; but

took their departure, then the marsh

re will, I hope, be the less difficulty over the matter; but we must not be too sanguine, for there will be a host of hungry competitors for the estates of the marquis, and all these will unit

deep gratitude at t

, and it is no use being a victorious general if one cannot utilize

t train of courtiers, received the marshal with the greatest warmth, and after talking to him for some time retired with him into his private closet. A few m

at the summons, Ronald followed the page into the presence of the king, who was alone wit

e to me, and he has done so now. He sa

Your majesty has always been gracious to me, and if you think me deserving of any mark of your favour

"I give you my royal word that whatever be your boon, provid

e released. He has now been over sixteen years in prison, and has therefore paid dearly for thwarting your will, and his wife has all this time been confined in a convent. They are the father and mother of this brave lad--Colonel Leslie

ater with a score of people. From the day the marquis was killed at Fontenoy I have heard nothing but

it to be necessary for me to say a single word. The countess has estates of her own, which she inherited from her mother, b

on one knee to kiss it, tears of joy flowing down his cheeks and preventing the utterance of any audible thanks for the boon, which far surpassed his expectations; for the ma

erence to the plans of their parents, and in this instance it happened that the father's plans had received our approval. The great estates of France cannot be handed over to the first comer, who may perhaps be utterly unworthy of

e the page who entered to order

rrested by our orders sixteen years ago, is confined, and then make out an order to the governor

Lady at Tours," Rona

en turned again to the secretary--"bidding her suffer the Countess Ame

, ten minutes later, the door of the king's closet opened, and the king and Marshal Saxe again appeared. The audience lasted for another half hour, and then the marshal, accompanied by many of the n

apers. Now, only one word, Leslie. Do not indulge in any hopes that you will see your father more than a shadow of the stalwart soldier that he was sixteen years ago. There are few men, indeed, whose constitution enable them to live through sixteen years' confinement in a state prison. Therefore prepare yourself to find him a mere wreck. I trust that freedom and your mother's care may do much for him, but don't expect too much at first. If you take my

of bumpers which he drank that night in honour of Marshal Saxe would have rendered him unfit for travel in the morning. Ronald had, after acquainting him with the news,

of your pistols before you put them in

k it will be

eaurouge. If he did not hear it from the king himself, which he would be most likely to do, as Louis would probably lose no time in explaining to him that he had only gone against his wishes becaus

ald said, "the duke can have no motive in preventing them be

into her father's possessions, will consider that the gain of time goes for a good deal. You are the mover in the matter. Were you out of the way, and the documents destroyed, the matter might rest as it is for a long time. The mars

ng. I tell you, Ronald, I consider the journey you are going to undertake tomorrow an affair of greater danger than going into a pitched battle. You will have to doubt everyone you meet on the road, the people at the inns you stop

, and Malcolm soon brought

barracks, and that therefore they have not been tampered with. Look well to the

ur own horse, M

one is likely to notice the difference, as they are as nearly as possible the same colour. Your horse is good enough for anythi

e, Malcolm? One would think that

op or stop at an inn till we arrive at Tours. We can make a shift to sleep for tonight in a wood. It would be safer a thousand times tha

ke of Chateaurouge is not ubiquitous. He h

tick at nothing to carry out his orders and earn his money. Paris swarms with discharged soldiers and ruffians of all kinds, and w

ern gates. They arrived there before it opened, and had to wait a few mi

this crowd is on the watch for us, and that before another hal