The minor functionary placed the two suspected persons on the side facing him, and took his place standing by their side.
As they were going in, Terence whispered: "If there is trouble, I will take this fellow, and you manage the Maire." "Now," that functionary said, "let me see your papers.
"Why," he exclaimed, looking at the names, "you are not Frenchmen!" "No," Terence said quietly.

"We do not pretend to be but, as you see, we are sailors who have done service on board a French privateer." "But where is this privateer ?" "I don't know, Monsieur le Maire.

We were not satisfied with our treatment, so we left her at Brest." "This is very serious," the Maire said.

"You are Spaniards.

You have deserted your ship at Brest.