I said I had left Paris an hour ago.

He replied that this was impossible, as no civilian was allowed to pass through the gate.

Things began to look uncomfortable.

The zealot talked of shooting me, as a simple and expeditious mode of solving the question.

To this I objected, and so at length it was agreed that I should be marched off to the fort of Vanves.
We found the Commandant seated before his fort with a big stick in his hand, like a farmer before his farm yard.