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.

One blow that I received between the shoulders filled my mouth with blood.
"All this time those of the opposite party were coming nearer, and those with whom I was continued to yell at me to go on.

I went on until I met them.

I besought them to retire, even throwing myself at their feet.
But all persuasion was in vain; they swept me along with them, making me enter by the Carmelite Gate, where they took the flag from me and allowed me to enter the house of a woman whose name I have never known.
I was spitting such a quantity of blood that she took pity on me and brought me everything she could think of as likely to do me good, and as soon as I was a little revived I asked to be shown the way to M.
Ponthier's." While Abbe de Belmont was carrying the red flag the militia forced the Town Councillors to proclaim martial law.