We were afterwards
informed at a small village, that there was actually a large gang
of deserters, who harboured in that wood, from which they made
excursions in the neighbourhood, and kept the peasants in continual
alarms.
"Having proceeded a little way, we were stopped by the artillery
crossing a bridge; and, as the train was very long, must have
been detained till night, had not a soldier informed me, that, if
I would take the trouble to come out of my coach, and apply to the
commandant, he would order them to halt, and allow me to pass. I took
the man's advice, and was by him conducted, with much difficulty,
through the crowd, to some officers, who seemed scarce to deserve
the name; for, when I signified my request, they neither rose up,
nor desired me to sit down; but, lolling in their chairs, with one
leg stretched out, asked, with an air of disrespectful raillery.
where I was going; and when I answered, "To Paris," desired to know
what I would do there.
"I, who am naturally civil where I am civilly used, and saucy enough
where I think myself treated with disregard, was very much piqued
at their insolent and unmannerly behaviour, and began to reply to the
impertinent questions very abruptly; so that a very tart dialogue
would have ensued, had not the conversation been interrupted
by a tall, thin, genteel young French nobleman, an officer in the
army, who, chancing to come in, asked with great politeness, what
I would please to have.
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