"You cannot pass!" returned the sentry, who called up the guard to arms.
At the instant the darkness was streaked with torchlight, and the cavalry could see masses of armed men and the musket-barrels shine.
Not knowing what had happened, Choiseul parleyed and said that he wanted to be put in communication with the officers of the garrison.
But while he was talking he noticed that trees were felled to make a breastwork and that two field pieces were trained on his forty men. As the gunner finished his aiming, the hussar's provost-marshal's squad arrived, unhorsed; they had been surprised and disarmed in the barracks and only knew that the King had been arrested. They were ignorant what had become of their comrades.
As they were concluding these thin explanations, Choiseul saw a troop of horse advance in the gloom and heard the bridge guards challenge:
"Who goes there?"
"The Provence Dragoons!"
A national Guard fired off his gun:
"It is Damas with his cavalry," whispered the count to an officer.