"Commander, you did not think it best to besiege the Tourgue from the plateau; you were satisfied to blockade it on that side; you planned the attack by way of the tower, and not from the bridge. So we gave our attention to the mine, and thought no more about the scaling. That is why we have no ladder."
"Have one made at once."
"A ladder of the length of three stories cannot be made at once."
"Then fasten several short ones together."
"But we must first get our ladders."
"Find them."
"There are none to be found. All through the country the peasants destroy ladders, just as they break up the carts and cut the bridges."
"True, they intend to paralyze the Republic."
"They mean that we shall neither transport baggage, cross a river, nor scale a wall."
"But I must have a ladder, in spite of all that."