"It did, `a lot,' my dear," replied his aunt, adopting his favourite word. "Several men with names distinguished in the Revolution were confined here, among them being the Irish general Tate, who led that ridiculous invasion of this country planned by Buonaparte, which was routed by a body of Welsh women at Fishguard." "Hurrah for the sex!" interrupted the Captain again, Mr Strong joining in his cheer, while the boatmen grinned. "More power to their petticoats!" Mrs Gilmour only smiled at this, not venturing to explain that the invaders mistook the red-cloaked, tall-hatted women of the Principality, who were ranged along the crests of their native mountains, for British regiments on the march to annihilate them; and so, capitulated to avoid capture! "One of the most comical characters imprisoned in the castle," she went on, "was a seaman named Francois Dufresne, who was a regular Jack Sheppard in the way of breaking out of confinement." "Oh!" exclaimed Bob, pricking up his ears at the mention of the noted celebrity of the Newgate Calendar. "That's jolly! What did he do, auntie?" "Why, he would, for a mere frolic or for a trifling wager, seals the walls of the castle under the very eye; of the sentries, making his way into the woodlands on the north of Portsdown Hill, where he would ramble at large, stealing all the eggs and fowls he could lay his hands on. He had, as he explained, a great weakness for poultry." "By Jove, I can quite excuse him," said the Captain in his funny way. "I'm partial to a chicken, myself!" "So am I, too," remarked Mrs Strong. "It was only what might be called `an amiable weakness' on his part, considering that probably the poor prisoners were not too well fed." "They were not, my dear Edith," replied her sister-in-law, "if all accounts be true; for the French Government complained of their being half-starved! However, be that as it may, Dufresne used to plunder away amongst the cottagers, until their anger at losing their stock led to his recapture and remission to durance vile. Once he actually made his way to London; when, calling at the house of the `French Commissioner' there, who was the agent for all the prisoners of the war, he procured a decent dress and a passport, with which he presented himself again at Porchester and made a triumphant return to his prison!" "The governor must have been surprised," said Bob. "Wasn't he, auntie?" "He was," assented his aunt. "Very much surprised, my dear." "Did they punish him for escaping?" asked Nell. "I don't think they ought to have, as he came back." "No, I don't think they did," replied Mrs Gilmour. "But, my dear, I think I've told you enough now of the castle and all belonging to it, and must really stop, for it's time for us to be going back." "Indeed we must, ma'am," said the Captain, "that is, if we're going over the Victualling Yard."