"We want to see your passports," returned several voices.
"So you may," he replied. "Get the town authorities and we will show them."
"You are making too much fuss over it," said the fellow who had missed fire with his gun and now levelled it at the King.
But the two Guardsmen leaped upon him, and dragged him down; in the scuffle the gun went off and the bullet did no harm in the crowd.
"Who fired?" demanded a voice.
"Help," called out the one whom the officers were beating.
Five or six armed men rushed to his rescue. The two Lifeguardsmen whipped out their short swords and prepared to use them. The King and the Queen made useless efforts to stop both parties: the contest was beginning fierce, terrible and deadly.
But two men plunged into the struggle, distinguishable by a tricolored scarf and military uniform; one was Sausse the County Attorney and the other National Guard Commandant Hannonet.
They brought twenty muskets, which gleamed in the torchlight.
The King comprehended that these officials were a guarantee if not assistance.