“Well, open the door,” said the sergeant, not expecting to find anybody.
“But I tell you the door is locked. Who has got the key, I wonder?” said the dame.
“Come, come, unlock the door, or we must force it open,” said the sergeant, making as if he was about to prise it open with his bayonet.
On this the dame pulled the key out of her pocket, and opening the door, exclaimed—
“There in one bed you will find the general, and in the other the admiral; or, without joking, they are two poor boys whom my good man picked up at sea, and already they are more French than English.”
The sergeant, looking into the beds, discovered the boys.
“Come, get up, mes garçons,” he said; “you must come with me, whoever you are, and give an account of yourselves.”
Neither of the boys made any reply, deeming it wiser to keep silence.
“Come along,” he said; and he dragged first one, and then the other, out of bed.
“Bring the boys’ clothes,” he added, turning to the dame, who quickly brought their original suits.