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24 THE king's yard
" Are you satisfied of your mistake ? "
" You must discuss that later on with my superiors.
Meanwhile, sir, I must trouble you
" But, monsieur, I
beg— " began
to come with me."
the master of the
vessel.
"
Oh !
go to the devil," interrupted
the lieutenant.
"Now, sir, if you please. Marines, take charge of
this gentleman."
"
Oh ! Of course, if it pleases monsieur, but— "
" It does please monsieur
;
there is no mistake.
My Government will answer yours later on if
you
don't like it. One of you men get any baggage
belonging to the prisoner, and bring
it
along with you."
"The Frenchman is quite right in protesting
against such an outrage, sir, and you will
have cause
to regret this arrest of my person, for although an
American by birth, my passport ought to
show you
that I
am under the protection of the King of France,
and you know very well I am not a deserter from
your service."
" All this you can say to my superiors, but meanwhile
you must come with me."
The American preserved his temper with the
greatest difficulty, but he replied with dignity
:
" Look you, sir, I cannot resist force of this kind,
but I warn you that the French Minister will make
some of you pay
for this insult. I am under the