One was to lay his hand upon all the treasure he could find, and the other was to show the people of the country, especially the ladies, that he was a gentleman of agreeable manners and a pious turn of mind.
It is highly probable that for some time the hero of this story did not succeed in his first object as well as he would have liked.

A great deal of treasure was secured, but some of it consisted of property which could not be easily turned into cash or carried away, and he had with him a body of rapacious and conscienceless scoundrels who were continually clamoring for as large a share of the available spoils--such as jewels, money, and small articles of value--as they could induce their commander to allow them, and, in consequence of this greediness of his own men, his share of the plunder was not always as large as it ought to be.
But in his other object he was very much more successful, and, in proof of this, we have only to relate an interesting and remarkable adventure which befell him.

He laid siege to a large town, and, as the place was well defended by fortifications and armed men, a severe battle took place before it was captured.

But at last the town was taken, and de Lussan and his men having gone to church to give thanks for their victory,--his Englishmen being obliged to attend the services no matter what they did afterward,--he went diligently to work to gather from the citizens their valuable and available possessions.

In this way he was brought into personal contact with a great many of the people of the town, and among the acquaintances which he made was that of a young Spanish lady of great beauty.
The conditions and circumstances in the midst of which this lady found herself after the city had been taken, were very peculiar.