I went up to the fireplace and took hold of an axe that lay there for chopping firewood, which I had had my eye on.
"But, monsieur," the astounded excise-keeper exclaimed, "what are you going to do now?"
"I am borrowing this axe from you to break open the door of the powder magazine.... You will find it all right at Saint-Jean, Monsieur Jousselin."
And I left him.
"But, monsieur," he shouted after me, "you are committing theft!"
"Yes, both theft and housebreaking, Monsieur Jousselin!"
"I warn you I shall write about this to the Minister of Finance!"
"Write to the devil, if you like, Monsieur Jousselin!"
Whilst we were talking we had reached the street door. M. Jousselin went on shouting and people began to collect in a crowd. I began to go back the way I came.
"Oh! do give us a bit of peace, monsieur!" I said, seizing hold of the axe by its handle.