"But, tell me, can't he put me in prison?"
To go to prison was the supreme fear of my childhood. One of my playfellows, Alexandre Tronchet, had been put in prison for twelve hours for pillaging. I had accompanied him to the end of the town, and only one thing had prevented me from being one of the party: I was wearing a long coat; they thought I should not be able to run easily in case of a chase, and that I should therefore be taken and compromise the whole band.
Therefore they hounded me back ignominiously.
I was not an accomplice in the fact, but I was in intention. When I saw Alexandre Tronchet put in prison I thought I should die of fear.
That was why I asked Montagnon so piteously if they would put me in prison.
"If they try to put you in prison, come to me, my boy, and I will prove to them that they have no law or right to imprison you."
"What else could they do?"
"They can fine you and confiscate your gun."
"Your gun, you mean."