"But," said Pajol, "are you made of iron?" "Iron or no," said Charras, "you can see very well that if I do not go, no one else means to go." "Off with you, then!... But, of course, if you meet the bread on the road, you will return back with it." "You bet!" Charras ran to the stables, saddled his horse and set off at a quick trot. When he had got as far as Trappes he was stopped by an outpost of the rearguard, who blocked the road. "_Qui vive?_" cried the sentinel. "Friend." "That isn't enough!" "Why isn't it enough?" "It isn't! Who are you?" "Charras, first aide-de-camp to General Pajol, commander-in-chief of the Expeditionary Army of the West." "Advance one and give the countersign." Things were all conducted in proper military order, as will be seen. "Who is in command here?" asked Charras. "General Exelmans." "I congratulate him: take me to him." They gratified his wish, which seemed quite reasonable. The general was asleep under a plum tree, wrapped in his cloak, to the left of the roadside. His son was asleep near him. Charras laid bare the object of his coming. "Do you know," Exelmans replied, "that we too are all famishing of hunger?" "General, it is through no fault of General Pajol's; he sent Colonel Jacqueminot to Versailles to order ten thousand rations of bread at eleven o'clock this morning." "To whom?" "To the prefect." "And hasn't the brute sent it?" "You can see for yourself he has not, since I am on my way to look for it." "You are quite sure it was ordered?" "Colonel Jacqueminot started in my presence." "In that case, monsieur, I, General Exelmans, command you to have the prefect shot." Charras drew a note-book and pencil from his pocket. "One word in writing, General, and it shall be accomplished within an hour." "But, monsieur...." "In pencil will be all I want." "But, monsieur...." "Come," said Charras, "I see the Prefect of Versailles won't be shot to-night." "But, monsieur, think what it is you are asking me to do!" "I am only asking you to let me pass through your lines, General." "Allow this gentleman to pass through," said General Exelmans. He lay down to sleep again under his plum tree, and Charras continued his journey. He reached the barrier of Versailles, made himself known, took four National Guards with him and made his way to the Prefecture. It was one o'clock in the morning and everyone was asleep. He had to knock a quarter of an hour before extracting the least sign of life from the house. Charras and the Guards went at it tooth and nail, some knocking with the butt-end of their pistols and others with that of their rifles. At last, a voice called out from the courtyard-- "What do you want?" "I want a word with the prefect." "What! with the prefect?" "Yes." "At this time of night?" "Certainly." "He is asleep." Well, I will wake him up, then. Come, come, open the door, and quickly too, or I shall break it in!"