"The Imperial Generals were just sitting down to dinner, when it
broke out; had intended a Council of War, over their wine, in the
Grand-Duke's tent: 'What, won't they let us have our dinner!' cried
Prince Karl, in petulant humor, struggling to be mirthful.
He rather likes his dinner, this Prince Karl, I am told, and does
not object to his wine: otherwise a hearty, talky, free-and-easy
Prince,--'black shallow-set eyes, face red, and much marked with
small-pox.' Clapping on his hat, faculties sharpened by hunger and
impatience, let him do his best, for several hours to come, till
the sally abate and go its ways again. Leaving its cannon, and
trophies. No sally could hope to rout 60,000 men; this furious
sally, almost equal to Sahay, had to return home again, on the
above terms. Upon which Prince Karl and the others got some snatch
of dinner; and the inexorable pressure of Siege, tightening itself
closer and closer, went on as before.

"The eyes of all Europe are turned towards Prag; a big crisis
clearly preparing itself there. ... France, or aid in France, is
some 500 miles away. In D'Harcourt, merely gathering magazines,
with his Khevenhuller near, is no help; help, not the question
there! The garrison of Eger, 100 miles to west of us, across the
Mountains, barely mans its own works. Other strong post, or support
of any kind in these countries, we have now none. We are 24,000;
and of available resource have the Magazines in Prag, and our own
right hands.

"The flower of the young Nobility had marched in that Oriflamme;--
now standing at bay, they and it, in Prag yonder: French honor
itself seems shut up there! The thought of it agitates bitterly the
days and nights of old Fleury, who is towards ninety now, and