It could be done! it could be done!" His moustaches bristled out more like a cat's than ever, and I could see by the flash of his eyes that he was carried away by his dream.
"You forget that our soldiers would be upon the beach," said I indignantly.
"Ta, ta, ta!" he cried.

"Of course it takes two sides to make a battle.
Let us see now; let us work it out.

What could you get together?
Shall we say twenty, thirty thousand.

A few regiments of good troops: the rest, _pouf!_--conscripts, bourgeois with arms.

How do you call them--volunteers ?" "Brave men!" I shouted.
"Oh yes, very brave men, but imbecile.