"Ah! yes, that Provisional Government of yours! it will be an easy matter if I can find it, but I have been looking all over for it. I have asked all sorts of people to point it out to me, and when I have gone where I was directed, I have only found a large empty hall with a table in the middle, on which stood empty bottles of wine and beer, and in one corner a desk and a sort of minute book on it.... Believe in me, general, since I believe in reality and not shadows, and sign the order I want." "Do you really want it?" he said. "I do indeed, general." "And you are ready to bear the responsibility yourself of whatever harm may come of it?" "Would you like me to give you a repudiation of all responsibility with respect to my person before I go?" "You can write the order yourself." "On condition, general, that you will copy it completely in your own handwriting after ... it will have more weight if it is autograph." "Very well." I took up a piece of paper and wrote this rough draft of an order:-- "The military authorities of the town of Soissons are asked to hand over immediately to M. Alexandre Dumas all the powder that can be found either in the powder magazine or in the town. "PARIS, 30 _July_ 1830" I presented the paper to General Gérard, who took it, read it and re-read it. Then, as though he had forgotten that I had asked him for an autograph order, he took a pen and, saying, "Since you really wish it...." he signed my order. I let him do it, for an idea came into my head. "Thanks, general." "Are you really satisfied?" "Very well satisfied." "Then you are not hard to please." And he returned to the drawing-room. I still held the pen, and, above his name, I wrote "Minister for War." The first interpolation had succeeded so well that I ventured on a second one. Thanks to my second interpolation the order read as follows:-- "The military authorities of the town of Soissons are asked to hand over to M. Alexandre Dumas instantly all the powder that can be found either in the powder magazine or in the town. Minister for War, GÉRARD "PARIS, 30 _July_ 1830" But my readers must not suppose this was all. I had an order for the military authorities signed _Gérard_; but I also wanted a similar invitation to the civil authorities signed _La Fayette._ I laid great store by General Gérard's military reputation, but I counted still more upon General La Fayette's popularity; besides, one of the signatures would supplement the other. When I returned to the Hôtel de Ville I sent to ask to see La Fayette, and he came to me. "Well," he said to me, "haven't you gone to bed yet?" "No, general, I am just off." "To what place?" "Soissons." "Without an order?" "I have one from General Gérard." "Did Gérard give you an order?" "Enthusiastically, general." "Oh! oh! I should much like to look at it." "Here it is"; and he read it. "'Minister for War'?" he said, after he had read it.