The pharos, as it issued from the hands of the Des Foix, father and son, consisted of a circular platform protected by a broad parapet, and of the tower, which was divided into four stories, not including the lantern. The ground floor presented a great vestibule of a quadrangular form, with four little recesses which served for magazines. Staircases placed in the embrasures of the entrance-gate and of the two windows led to the cellars and the water-tank. On either side of the doorway, prior to the Revolution, were busts of Henry III. and Henry IV. On the first story, which bore the title—probably without any justification—of “the King’s Chamber,” was a saloon of the same dimensions as the vestibule, but more richly decorated, from which access was obtained to the first exterior gallery. A chapel, circular in shape, occupied the second story, and was illuminated by two rows of windows, covered by a spherical vault, and enriched with Corinthian pilasters and elegant sculptures. Above the door of the chapel stood the bust of Louis de Foix; and the following sonnet, composed in the purest _galimatias_ of the time, was engraved on a large tablet above it:— QVAND IADMIRE RAVI CEST ŒVVRE EN MON COVRAGE MON DE FOIX MON ESPRIT EST EN ESTONNEMENT. PORTE DANS LES PENSERS DE MON ENTENDEMENT LE GENTIL INGENIEVX DE CE SVPERBE OVVRAGE. LA IL DISCOVRT EN LVY ET DVN MVET LANGAGE TE VA LOVANT SVBTIL EN CE POINT MESMEMENT QUE TV BRIDES LES FLOTS DV GRONDEVX ELEMENT ET DVN MVTIN NEPTVNE LA TEMPESTE ET LORAGE. O TROIS ET QVATRE FOIS BIENHEVREVX TON ESPRIT DE CE QVAV FRONT DRESSE CE PHARE IL ENTREPRIT POVR SE PERPETVER DANS LHEVREVSE MEMOIRE. TV TES AQVIS PAR LA VN HONNEVR INFINI QVI NE FINIRA POINT QVE CE PHARE DE GLOIRE LE MONDE FINISSANT NE SE RENDE FINY. All the parts of the primitive construction still exist, and have undergone but little alteration during successive restorations; but such is not the case with the upper portion, which has been completely destroyed, from the gradual sinking of the tower. Above the second gallery, the dome of the chapel was ornamented on the outside by richly sculptured dormer-windows, forming the second tier of windows of that story. It was surmounted by a circular pavilion, vaulted, and decorated with composite pilasters, whose entablature was crowned by the open balustrade of an outer gallery leading into the lantern. This lantern—whose dimensions were somewhat limited—was built of hewn stone, and composed of eight arcades, whose piers were embellished with columns, and whose cupola terminated in a shaft to carry off the smoke of the furnace.