his young officer lives he is likely
to gain the highest rank and position. Already I have every reason to
congratulate myself upon having, almost as it were by chance, taken him
under my protection."

The winter passed quietly, but as soon as spring set in and the roads
were sufficiently good for the passage of wagons, d'Harcourt prepared to
attempt to raise the siege of Casale, before which Leganez with twenty
thousand men had intrenched himself. The roads were still, however, far
too heavy for cannon, and as the garrison were becoming hardly pressed
he left his guns behind him and started at the end of April with seven
thousand foot and three thousand horse. The position occupied by the
Spaniards was a strong one, and their general did not for a moment
think that the French, with a force half the strength of his own, would
venture to attack him. D'Harcourt, however, resolved upon doing so. He
divided his force into three parts; two of these were composed of French
soldiers, the third comprised the forces of the Duchess of Savoy. The
attack was successful on all sides--although d'Harcourt for a time could
make no way, and Turenne was repulsed three times before he entered the
intrenchments--the Spaniards were completely defeated, and lost their
guns, ammunition, and baggage, three thousand killed, two thousand
prisoners, and great numbers were drowned in endeavouring to cross the
river.

A council of war was held, and Turenne's advice that Turin should be
besieged was after much debate accepted, although it seemed a desperate
enterprise for an army of ten thousand men to besiege a town garrisoned
by twelve thousand, while the Spaniards, after recovering from their
defeat and drawing men from their various garrisons, could march
to relieve the town with eighteen thousand men. No time was lost in
carrying Turenne's advice into effect. The army marched upon Turin,
seized the positions round the town, threw up lines facing the city to
prevent sorties being made by the enemy, and surrounded themselves by
similar lines to enable them to resist attack by the Spaniards, who
were not long in approaching them. Thus there were now four bodies
of combatants--the garrison of the citadel, which was surrounded and
besieged by that of the town; the town was besieged by Turenne, and
he himself was surrounded by the Spaniards. Each relied rather upon
starving the others out than upon storming their positions, but Leganez
managed to s