In a town crowded with troops, two lads can move about without attracting the smallest attention from the military.

It would be only the civilian authorities that you would have to fear; but these will be so much occupied, in attending to the wants of the soldiers, that they will not have any time on their hands for asking questions.
"Be sure, before you enter the town, that you find out the name of some village, three or four miles on the other side; so as to have an answer ready, if you are asked where you come from.
"It is probable that you will find troops quartered in all the villages beyond the town, which could hardly accommodate so large a number as are there.

Remember, you must try to look absolutely unconcerned as you go through them, and as you walk about the streets of the town.

The great object is to find out how many men there are in and around Thouars, whether they are looking for more troops to join them from Saumur, and when they are expecting to move forward." As soon as they had left he repeated, to the six lads who remained with him, the orders that he had given to those posted on the other roads.
"You are to remain in hiding," he said, "whatever the force may be.
It is likely enough that patrols of four or five men may come along, to see that the roads are clear, and that there are no signs of any bodies being gathered to oppose their advance.

It is quite true that we might shoot down and overpower any such patrols, but we must not attempt to do so.