Not a hand was raised to arrest me
until I halted in front of a formidable old man, whose long grey
beard and masterful manner told me that both by years and by
character he was the man in authority.
"Sir," said I, "you will, perhaps, tell me why I have been
forcibly arrested and brought to this place. I am an honourable
soldier, as is this other gentleman here, and I demand that you
will instantly set us both at liberty."
There was an appalling silence to my appeal. It was not pleasant
to have twelve masked faces turned upon you and to see twelve
pairs of vindictive Italian eyes fixed with fierce intentness
upon your face. But I stood as a debonair soldier should, and I
could not but reflect how much credit I was bringing upon the
Hussars of Conflans by the dignity of my bearing. I do not think
that anyone could have carried himself better under such
difficult circumstances. I looked with a fearless face from one
assassin to another, and I waited for some reply.
It was the grey-beard who at last broke the silence.
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