Page:History of the French in India.djvu/231

FORTUNE REFUSES A SECOND CHANCE. 209 misunderstood, the terrible, the fatal effect of throwing chap. away an opportunity. From December 10 to February *_ 13, the French army had been idle at Ariakupum. 1747. Dordelin's squadron had arrived on January 20, and within ten days of its arrival, the Nawwab had signified his intention of withdrawing his support from the English. Had Paradis been allowed to march even a month earlier, on February 13 instead of March 13, he must have been able, within those twenty-eight days, to force his way into Fort St. David. Even one week earlier, and his chances would have been considerable. Whilst Dordelin's squadron might have attacked the open face of Gudalur with a certainty of mastering it, he might have moved, with an equal confidence of victory, upon Fort St. David. That it would have fallen may be considered certain when we recollect how quickly it surrendered, after its defences had been greatly strengthened, some years later, to the attack of Lally. Had that been accomplished, the fleets of Eng- land would have found no resting-place for the soldiers they carried with them on the soil of the Karnatik, and the foundations of a French Empire might have been laid. But it was not to be. The inaction of one month, unexplained, and to our minds inexplicable, threw away that great chance, lost that splendid opportunity. In this one instance, Dupleix acted as though he believed he could count for ever on the favours of Fortune. The fickle goddess showed him in return that she will never continue to help those who decline to help themselves. She aids the daring and skilful warrior, but she leaves him the exercise of his free will. Should he evince carelessness, indecision, or blindness, she leaves him then, and rightly leaves him, to the consequences of his own acts. On March 14, Paradis was in the position, in which, had Dupleix willed it, he might have been early in p