The gentleman who had so unexpectedly patronized me rose, and said,
"Marshal, I promise."

"Very well," said Davoust. "Lafontaine, desire supper to be sent up."

It was brought in, and my new ally and I were shown out.

As we went down stairs, we looked into a room on the ground floor, at the
door of which were four soldiers with fixed bayonets. We there saw, for
it was well lit up, about twenty or five--and--twenty respectable--looking
men, very English in appearance, all to their long cloaks, an unusual sort
of garment to my eye at that time. The night was very wet, and the
aforesaid garments were hung on pegs in the wall all around the room,
which being strongly heated by a stove, the moisture rose up in a thick
mist and made the faces of the burghers indistinct.

They were all busily engaged talking to each other, some to his neighbour,
the others across the table, but all with an expression of the most
intense anxiety.

"Who are these?" said I to my guide.

"Ask no questions here" said he, and we passed on.

I afterwards learned that they were the hostages seized on for the
contribution of fifty millions of francs, which had been imposed on the
doomed city, and that this very night they had been tom from their
families, and cooped up in the way I had seen them, where, they were
advertised, they must remain until the money should be forthcoming.