I cried out his name immediately; he turned round, and seeing O'Brien and me, he came up to us, shaking us by the hand, and expressing his surprise at finding us in such a situation.

O'Brien explained to him how we had been treated, at which he expressed his indignation, as did the other officers who had collected round us.

The major who commanded the troops in the town turned to the French officer (he was only a lieutenant) who had conducted us from Toulon, and demanded of him his reason for behaving to us in such an unworthy manner.

He denied having treated us ill, and said that he had been informed that we had put on officers' dresses which did not belong to us.

At this O'Brien declared that he was a liar, and a cowardly _foutre_, that he had struck him with the back of his sabre, which he would not have dared do if he had not been a prisoner; adding, that all he requested was satisfaction for the insult offered to him, and appealed to the officers whether, if it were refused, the lieutenant's epaulets ought not to be cut off his shoulders.