“But you must hear me, M. le Commissary; I call upon and require you to do so.  I have been shamefully ill-used by that man there.”  He shook his finger at the Colonel.  “He has violently assaulted me.  I am Lord Blackadder, an English peer.  I am entitled to your best consideration.”

“Every individual, the poorest, meanest, is entitled to that in republican France.  You shall have it, sir, but only as I see fit to accord it.  I must first hear the story from my own people.  Go on, sergeant.”

“I protest,” persisted my lord.  “You must attend to me—­you shall listen to me.  I shall complain to your superiors—­I shall bring the matter before the British ambassador.  Do you realize who and what I am?”

“You appear to be a gentleman with an uncontrollable temper, whose conduct is most improper.  I must ask you to behave yourself, to respect the convenances, or I shall be compelled to show you the door.”

“I will not be put down in this way, I will speak; I—­I—­”

“Silence, monsieur.  I call upon you, explicitly, to moderate your tone and pay proper deference to my authority.”  With this the commissary pulled out a drawer, extracted a tricolour sash and slowly buckled it round his waist, then once more turned interrogatively to the sergeant: 

“It is nothing very serious, M. le Commissaire,” said the treacherous gendarme.  “A simple brawl—­a blow struck, possibly returned—­a mere rixe.”

“Between gentlemen? Fi donc! Why the commonest voyous, the rodeurs of the barriere, could not do worse.  It is not our French way.  Men of honour settle their disputes differently; they do not come to the police correctionnelle.”

“Pray do not think it is my desire,” broke in the Colonel, with his customary fierceness.  “I have offered Lord Blackadder satisfaction as a gentleman, and am ready to meet him when and how he pleases.”

“I cannot listen to you, sir.  Duels are in contravention of the Code.  But I recommend you to take your quarrels elsewhere, and not to waste my time.”

“This is quite unheard of,” cried my lord, now thoroughly aroused.  “You are shamefully neglecting your duty, M. le Commissaire, and it cannot be tolerated.”

“I am not responsible to you, sir, and will account for my action a qui de droit, to those who have the right to question me.  The case is dismissed.  Gendarmes, release your prisoner, and let everyone withdraw.”

We all trooped out into the square, where a number of persons had assembled, evidently the Colonel’s friends, for they greeted him uproariously.

“The prisoner has left the court without a stain upon his character,” the Colonel shouted in answer to their noisy inquiries.

“But what was it?  Why did they run you in?” they still asked.

“I refer you to this gentleman, Lord Blackadder.  Perhaps some of you know him.  At any rate you’ve heard of him.  We had a difference of opinion, and I was compelled to administer chastisement.”  A lot of impudent chaff followed.