"Citizen, who are you?" Was the first interrogatory.
"I am no citizen, no Frenchman, and no republican," was my answer. My judges stared at each other.
"You are a prisoner. How came you here?"
"You are judges; how came you there?"
"You are charged with crimes against the Republic."
"In my country no man is expected to criminate himself."
"But you are a traitor: can you deny that?"
"I am no traitor to my king; can you say as much for yourselves?" They now began to cast furious glances at me.
"You are insolent: what brought you into the territory of France?"
"The same thing which placed you on that bench—force."