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The smile which at this sally passed across Torstenson's pale and suffering face gave Conrad a sudden courage; he knelt before the general, and began in a pleading tone, that grew bolder as he warmed with his subject: 'Gracious Field-Marshal, I pray of you, for Christ's sake, to leave off firing at our dear old town.
The roar of cannon followed close on the words, and the women and children huddled together in alarm. 'You may give a pretty good guess by that what they were, replied Hillner. 'That's Marshal Torstenson's way of telling us how he likes his answer. The thunder of the guns was heard again.
That done, he left one of his captains to watch lest they come out from among the islands where their ships of shallower draught had sought refuge, and sailed for Copenhagen. Everything that could carry sail was ready for him by that time; also the news that the Swedish fleet of forty-six fighting ships under Klas Fleming had sailed for the coast of Holstein to take on board Torstenson's army.
He saw the batteries, mortars, and siege-guns that were destroying his native town; he saw whole regiments of Swedes; but to his immense consolation he did not see any of those men who tortured people and slaughtered little children. In front of Marshal Torstenson's quarters a huge cask of wine was being unloaded, a task in which several peasants were forced to render unwilling aid.
Have I not many times offered the town pardon on favourable terms? 'Yes, returned Conrad, hesitating; 'but with permission people know what your excellency's pardon is like. Inside the town there, they say they would rather die than accept your excellency's pardon. Perhaps it was a fresh twinge of the gout that distorted Torstenson's face.
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