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Rh wounded. The rest of the French force found refuge in the island of Srirangam.

Meanwhile Dupleix at Pondichery, whilst using all the means in his power to strengthen his force before Trichinopoli, had not been less persistent in his attempts to pacify the Karnátik. More than one circumstance, slight in itself, had satisfied him that his masters in France were men who would judge only by results; that whilst they were ready to applaud and flatter him so long as he was successful, they would unhesitatingly sacrifice him if Fortune should prove adverse. Success, to them, meant the peaceful acquisition of territory, and increase of trading facilities. They cared not to reason out the terms by which such success was to be acquired. Why Dupleix should send troops to be killed before Trichinopoli was a problem they declined to consider. They only saw the result; that, so far as concerned Trichinopoli, failure had succeeded failure. In the bosom of the French Company there had always been a minority jealous of Dupleix, feeble at first in its action, but always ready to start into active life. It was at this period, that is, after the surrender of Law had become known, that this minority began to assert its existence. In spite of its efforts, the majority had despatched De la Touche and his 700 men to reinforce Dupleix. The accident which had disposed of this strong force before it reached the shores of India, whilst it deprived Dupleix of a strength which, considering all that he effected without