"'A young man,' said the commissaire, who was new in the quartier; 'who are you?'
"'I am not obliged to say,' said I.
"'Ah—we shall see that; what are you?'
"'A student of the Faculty of Médecine. Vive la République! War to the cottage—peace to the castle!' I replied, waving my hat.
"'Is your name inscribed for the levy, blunderer? You quote oddly for a student!'
"'Of course my name is inscribed,' said I, boldly, though I little knew that it was so.
"'Show me your card which certifies this.'
"'Mon Dieu!' I exclaimed, as a brilliant thought occurred to me; 'do not speak so loud, monsieur.'
"'Diable; may we not raise our voices in the streets of Paris?' he asked.
"'Not if you knew the mischief an alarm would do me.'