But I must needs have some story to tell, and prayed Heaven to forgive me for this.
To my relief the officer seemed satisfied, and I gathered that the Citoyen Duport must be a man of consequence in Paris.
"Pass, John Cassidy," said he, handing me back my papers.
The same ceremony awaited me at each halting-place, and I realised before I was half-way to Paris that it was no easy matter for a stranger to travel in France in those days.

What would have become of me but for the accident in the wood near Morlaix it were hard to say.
But though I had much to congratulate myself on, I confess that as I drew near to the capital I had much to perturb me.

At every halting- place on the way there were some who shrugged their shoulders when they heard I was going to Paris.

Paris, I heard it whispered, was no safe place just then even for a Frenchman, still less for a stranger.

The streets were flowing with the blood of those whose only crime was that they were suspected of not being the friends of the people.