
bridge; and as the train was very long, must have been detained till night, had
not a soldier informed me, that if I would take the trouble to come out of my
coach, and apply to the commandant, he would order them to halt, and allow me to
pass. I took the man's advice, and was by him conducted, with much difficulty,
through the croud to some officers, who seemed scarce to deserve the name; for,
when I signified my request, they neither rose up, nor desired me to sit down;
but lolling in their chairs, with one leg stretched out, asked, with an air of
disrespectful raillery, where I was going; and when I answered, »To Paris;«
desired to know what I would do there.
    I, who am naturally civil where I am civilly used, and saucy enough where I
think myself treated with disregard, was very much piqued at their insolent and
unmannerly behaviour, and began to reply to their impertinent questions, very
abruptly; so that a very tart dialogue would have ensued, had not the
conversation been interrupted by a tall, thin, genteel young French nobleman, an
officer in the army, who chancing to come in, asked with great politeness, what
I would please to have. I then repeated my desire, and produced my passports, by
which he learn'd who I was. He immediately gave orders, that my coach should
pass; and afterwards visited me at Paris, having obtained my permission, and
taken my address at parting; while the others, understanding my name and
quality, asked pardon for their impolite carriage, which they told me was owing
to the representation of the soldier, who gave them to understand, that I was a
strolling actress.
    I could not help laughing heartily at this mistake, which might have
proceeded from the circumstances of my appearance, my footman having been
obliged to change hats with the peasant, and myself being without buckles in my
shoes, and buttons in my riding-shirt, while my countenance still retained marks
of the fear and confusion I had undergone. After all, perhaps the fellow was a
droll, and wanted to entertain himself at my expence.
    The day was so far consumed in these adventures, that I was obliged to take
up my lodging at Mechlin, where I addressed myself to the intendant, giving him
an account of the disaster I had met with, and desiring I might have credit at
the inn, as our whole company could not raise the value of a six-pence. This
gentleman,
