Thus there was distraction within the walls.

Among those whom the burghers had been told to consider their defenders, there were probably many who were ready to join with their mortal foes at a moment's warning.

Under these circumstances, Champagny hesitated about admitting these fresh troops from Brussels.

He feared lest the Germans, who knew themselves doubted, might consider themselves doomed.

He trembled, lest an irrepressible outbreak should occur within the walls, rendering the immediate destruction of the city by the Spaniards from without inevitable.
Moreover, he thought it more desirable that this auxiliary force should be disposed at different points outside, in order to intercept the passage of the numerous bodies of Spaniards and other mutineers, who from various quarters would soon be on their way to the citadel.