At the noise I made as I touched the ground they both turned round simultaneously. The second apparition evidently seemed more extraordinary to them than the first. I had had time to pass my rifle into my left hand and to cock the two triggers. I walked towards them, they still looking at me, motionless with astonishment. I stopped within ten yards of them. "Gentlemen," I said, "I ask your pardon for the manner of my introduction to your premises, but as you do not know me, you would have refused me entry by the door, which would have occasioned all kinds of delays, and I am in a hurry." "But, monsieur," Captain Mollard asked, "who are you?" "I am M. Alexandre Dumas, son of General Alexandre Dumas, whose name you will have known if you served under the Republic; and I have come in the name of General Gérard to ask the military authorities of the town of Soissons for all the powder they can find in the town. Here is my order: will one of you gentlemen come and look at it?" With my gun in my left hand, I held out my right to them. The captain came up, took the order and read it. Whilst he was doing so, Sergeant Ragon took some steps towards the house. "Pardon, monsieur," I said, "but since I do not know your purpose in going into your house, I will beg you to remain where you are." The sergeant stopped short. Captain Mollard gave me back my order. "That is all right, monsieur. What do you want further?" "I want a simple enough thing, monsieur.... Do you see that tricolour flag?" He nodded as an acknowledgment that he saw it perfectly well. "Its substitution for the white flag," I continued, "will prove to you that I have friends in the town.... The town is going to rise." "And then, monsieur?" "Then, monsieur, I was told that I should find brave patriots in the three keepers of the magazine, who, instead of opposing General Gérard's orders, would assist me in my enterprise. I therefore introduce myself to you with confidence to ask your co-operation in this business." "You must know, monsieur," the captain said, "that our co-operation is out of the question." "Well, then, promise you will be neutral." "What is all this about?" asked a third interlocutor, who appeared on the doorstep with a silk kerchief tied round his head, attired only in a shirt and cotton trousers. "Colonel," the sergeant said, stepping nearer to his superior officer, "it is a messenger from General Gérard. It seems the Revolution in Paris is accomplished, and that General Gérard is now Minister for War." I stopped the orator, who continued his advance towards the house. "Monsieur," I said to him, "instead of going to the colonel, please ask him to come to us. I shall be most happy to pay my addresses to him and to show him General Gérard's order." "Is it in the general's handwriting, monsieur?" the colonel asked. "It is signed by himself, monsieur." "I warn you that I have just been a member of the general's staff, and therefore know his signature."