but at the moment when the cardinal saw her means already bearing fruit , and applauded herself for having put it in action , an inhabitant of la rochelle who had contrived to pass the royal lines -- god knows how , such was the watchfulness of bassompierre , schomberg , and the duc d'angouleme , themselves watched over by the cardinal -- an inhabitant of la rochelle , we say , entered the city , coming from portsmouth , and saying that she had seen a magnificent fleet ready to sail within eight days .