"If you are the very devil himself it makes no difference! Our orders are that no one shall enter the park, so out you go!"
"Excuse me," said Barré, "but I should much like to know who is in command here, you or I?"
"Whoever is the stronger commands here at present.... I do not recognise you.... Help, artillerymen!"
Fifty of us surrounded Bastide with poinards in hand. Several had found time to take their loaded muskets from their racks. Barré gave in to us.
"What do you want?" he asked.
"To take any gun that comes handiest and make it ready for firing!" exclaimed Bastide.
We flung ourselves on the first that came; but, at the third revolution of the wheels, the washer broke and the wheel came off.
"I want you to fetch me the linch-pins of the guns you have just carried off."
"Really ..."
"Those linch-pins, or, I repeat, I will pass my sword through your body!"