It was
extremely hot, but we could not think of that. And what a sight it
was in the full glare of the summer sun! Mademoiselle had a spy-
glass, but even without one we could see a great deal, when we were
not too much dazzled. There was the open space beneath us, with the
moat and ditch between, crowded with baggage, and artillery near the
walls, with gentlemen on foot and horseback, their shorn plumes and
soiled looks telling of the deadly strife--messengers rushing up
every moment with tidings, and carrying orders from the group which
contained the Prince, and wounded men being carried or helped out at
the openings of the three chief suburban streets, whose irregular
high-roofed houses and trees, the gray walls and cloisters of the
abbey, hid the actual fight, only the curls of smoke were rising
continually; and now and then we saw the flash of the firearms, while
the noise was indescribable--of shots, shrieks, cries to come on, and
yells of pain. My brother told me afterwards that in all the battles
put together he had seen in England he did not think he had heard
half the noise that came to him in that one afternoon on the top of
the Hotel de Nidemerle. The Cavaliers gave a view halloo, and cried,
'God save the King!' the Ironsides sang a Psalm, and then they set
their teeth and fought in silence, and hardly any one cried out when
he was hurt--while here the shots were lost in the cries, and oh! how
terrible with rage and piteous with pain they were!
Beyond the houses and gardens, where lie the heights of Charonne,
were to be seen, moving about like ants, a number of troops on foot
and on horseback, and with colours among them.
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