He had expected that he should be able to push forward without a moment's pause, that he should find the French army in a state of wild disorder, and that his victory would be easy and complete.

But his progress was obstructed by several fences and ditches; there was a short delay; and a short delay sufficed to frustrate his design.

Luxemburg was the very man for such a conjuncture.
He had committed great faults; he had kept careless guard; he had trusted implicitly to information which had proved false; he had neglected information which had proved true; one of his divisions was flying in confusion; the other divisions were unprepared for action.
That crisis would have paralysed the faculties of an ordinary captain; it only braced and stimulated those of Luxemburg.

His mind, nay his sickly and distorted body, seemed to derive health and vigour from disaster and dismay.

In a short time he had disposed every thing.