I was hustled and even received several blows; but at length M.de Boudon brought me paper and a pen, and I wrote:--'I require the troops to assist us to maintain order by force if necessary.' Upon this, the officer consented to accompany us.

We had hardly taken half a dozen steps when they all began to ask what had become of the order I had just written, for it could not be found.

They surrounded me, saying that I had not written it at all, and I was on the point of being trampled underfoot, when a militiaman found it all crumpled up in his pocket.

The threats grew louder, and once more it was because I did not carry the flag high enough, everyone insisting that I was quite tall enough to display it to better advantage.
"However, at this point the militiamen with the red tufts made their appearance, a few armed with muskets but the greater number with swords; shots were exchanged, and the soldiers of the line and the National Guard arranged themselves in battle order, in a kind of recess, and desired me to go forward alone, which I refused to do, because I should have been between two fires.
"Upon this, curses, threats, and blows reached their height.

I was dragged out before the troops and struck with the butt ends of their muskets and the flat of their swords until I advanced.