expected, and which the appearance
of the British fleet in the offing had led the inhabitants to suppose
was at hand, was surrounded by French troops almost without a blow being
struck. The people of the town, seized with terror, offered to surrender
at discretion. With a spirit of devotion not rare in the Peninsula,
the slayers of the French soldiery, fearing, from the cruelty of their
commander, that Menda would be given to the flames, and the whole
population put to the sword, proposed to the general to denounce
themselves. He accepted their offer, making a condition that the
inhabitants of the chateau, from the marquis to the lowest valet, should
be delivered into his hands. This condition being agreed to, the general
proceeded to pardon the rest of the population, and to prevent his
soldiers from pillaging the town or setting fire to it. An enormous
tribute was levied, and the wealthiest inhabitants held prisoner to
secure payment of it, which payment was to be made within twenty-four
hours.

The general took all precautions necessary for the safety of his troops,
and provided for the defence of the region from outside attack, refusing
to allow his soldiers to be billeted in the houses. After putting
them in camp, he went up to the chateau and took possession of it. The
members of the Leganes family and their servants were bound and kept
under guard in the great hall where the ball had taken place. The
windows of this room commanded the terrace which overhung the town.
Headquarters were established in one of the galleries, where the general
held, in the first place, a council as to the measures that should
be taken to prevent the landing of the British. After sending an
aide-de-camp to Marechal Ney, and having ordered batteries to certain
points along the shore, the general and his staff turned their attention
to the prisoners. Two hundred Spaniards who had delivered themselves
up were immediately shot. After this military execution, the general
ordered as many gibbets planted on the terrace as there were members of
the family of Leganes, and he sent for the executioner of the town.

Victor Marchand took advantage of the hour before dinner, to go and see
the prisoners. Before long he returned to the general.

"I have come," he said in a voice full of feeling, "to ask for mercy."

"You!" said the general, in a tone of bitter irony.

"Alas!" replied Victor, "it is only a sad mercy. The marquis, who has
seen tho