He replied that he could not do that without a written order from a member of the Town Council.
Thereupon those around me told me I must write such an order, but I asked for a pen and ink; everybody was furious because I had none with me.

So offensive were the remarks indulged in by the volunteers and some soldiers of the Guienne regiment, and so threatening their gestures, that I grew alarmed.

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.