What had he to fear? It was impossible to conceive that the honest scythe and saddle makers of the town, the peaceful citizens who had only to do with planes and awls and shuttles, would dare to attack him forcibly and compel him to retire before them.
Swiftly, but with the utmost sang froid, he made his preparations.
Half a battalion took up a position outside the gate guarding every approach, the rest remained within the courtyard.
The rifles of the soldiers outside the gate remained unloaded.
At three rolls of a drum the remaining column also marched out into the street.
A single word of command would suffice for subsequent tactics.
It was also considered necessary to close the gates of the neighbouring house, and two sentries were posted outside it with loaded muskets.
All this was done in the most perfect order, there was no hurry, no bustle.
In that house opposite dwelt the General's wife; one could reach it from the barracks across a garden.
Vértessy had just completed his preparations when Cornelia's maid came hastening up to him and whispered something in his ear.