"The Duc d'Orléans is in his right place!" Oudard replied magisterially.
"My dear Oudard, as I am much less well versed in matters of etiquette than yourself, allow me to inquire where the right place is?"
"Why, by the king's side, I suppose."
"Then," I said, "I present my compliments to His Highness."
At this moment drums began beating at the corner of the rue de Richelieu, turning by the rue Saint-Honoré, and advancing towards the Palais-Royal. Behind them came a general, surrounded by his staff of officers. I could see them plainly through the chinks of the outside blinds.
I felt a great desire to make Oudard sick with fear.
"Look here, Oudard," I said, "I am strongly of opinion that if I picked off the general who is just passing it would considerably advance the affairs of M. le Duc d'Orléans ... who is so near the king."
And I covered the general with my gun. Oudard became as pale as death and flung himself upon my gun, which was not even cocked. I laughingly showed him the hammer lowered on the nipple.
"Oh!" he said, "you will leave this place, will you not?"
"You must wait till the soldiers have filed past.... I cannot reasonably attack, singlehanded, two or three thousand men."