Mademoiselle W—— accompanied me, and with her the omnipresent bag filled with chocolates, bonbons, etc., for any unforeseen event.
On our way she discoursed on the manner one ought to treat ces gens- là. One should (she said) not brusquer them, nor provoke them in any way, but smile kindly at them and en générale be very polite.
I don't know how many times I had to pull out my billet de circulation before we reached the prefecture.
It was a long time since I had been down the Rue de Rivoli, and I was disgusted when I saw the half-clad half-starved soldiers, in their dirty boots and down-trodden shoes, slouching about with their torn uniforms and carrying their rusty guns any which way.
At last we arrived, and we were about to descend from the carriage, when a ragamuffin of a Communist, shouldering his gun and looking all-important, sprang forward to prevent us; but on showing my "billet," he nodded his head, saying, "C'est bien."
At the mere sight of him Mademoiselle W—— said, "Don't you think, chère Madame, that it is better to return home?" I answered: "Nonsense! Now that we are here, let us go through with it."
A few steps farther an awkward soldier happened to drop his gun on the pavement. At the sound of this, poor Mademoiselle W—— almost sank on her knees with fright.
The small gate next to the large iron one was opened, and we entered the courtyard. This was filled with soldiers. A sentinel stood before the door of the large corridor which led to the Prefect's office. Inside this room stood a guard, better dressed and seemingly a person of more importance. On showing Mr. Washburn's card, I said to him that I had come here for the purpose of getting a passport, and would like to speak to Monsieur Rigault himself.
We went toward the door, which he opened, but on seeing Mademoiselle W—— he stopped us and asked: "Who is that lady? Has she a card also?"
We had never thought of this! I was obliged to say that she had not, but she had come to accompany me.