204 THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [book iv.

honour, famine, scorn, beggary, the vilest servitude !Respond to my defiance; there he is, hut here arewe!” There was a shout, hut was it of the ma-jority? And there were popular shrieks without;it was evidently a revolutionary noise—and thedeputation which had been sent to visit the greatmagazine entered in evident dismay. “Not only thegunpowder dealed out to the various batteries hasbeen spoiled, as you know ; but the great magazineitself, all it contains ; the provisions for four yearsutterly spoiled—not an ounce worth a farthing.IIow it came to pass may ask chemical inquiry •but as to military and immediate use, it is beyondthe smallest doubt entirely destroyed, we think .”And that bailiff, though of a green old age and per-haps not timid, appeared petrified. And in rananother and said, “ Buonaparte has landed.” On whichRansjat got up and approaching Hompesch handedhim the key of the treasury, saying hurriedly thathe could not fight against the French. It was theonly instance of the kind says Boisgelin—and aplain declaration of high treason; but it was alsobold at least and candid. A great confusion ensued,during which Hompesch retired through a kind ofprivate door, which shut after him; and opened onlyon the outside. Perhaps Ransjat would havefollowed ; but how could he ? There was the pub-