“Look here, young man; unhappy as we are, can we do nothing to help you?”
I felt wounded that the King should think that I required to be paid for what I had done.
“Sire,” replied I, “if you make a promise to the nation, keep it; and, as a citizen, you will have done all for me that I can ask.”
“You see, sister,” said the King, “he is a savage.”
“What is your name, sir?” asked Madame Elizabeth.
“Réné Besson.”
“Whence come you?”
“From the Forest of Argonne.”
“I told you he was a savage,” said the King. “What else could you expect?”
“What trade are you?”