260 TAVERNIER'S DEFENCE book iii
that
consequently I must be well acquainted with his affairs. They were
right in this, but I was not bound to render an account to them. This
inquiry lasted fully four or five weeks, during which an officer came
to summon me several times to accompany him to the Town Hall to give a
reply. I gave always the same answer, that I knew nothing of M.
Constant's affairs, and that when he did anything he did not ask my
advice. As they saw they could get nothing from me by politeness, they
began to threaten me with arrest. I replied boldly that I did not fear
them, and that if they arrested me I had the honour to serve a Prince,
the late Monseigneur le Due d'Orleans, who would get me safely out of
their hands, and would resent the affront they had done me. At the same
time I left their presence without saying another word, and they also
said nothing to me. Fifteen days passed without reference to this
affair, and during this time I went to take exercise and even to dine
with some of these gentlemen. One day the Avocat Fiscal, who had read
much and liked to hear about foreign countries, asked me to supper ;
when we had left the table he took me apart and told me that he had to
summon me on the following day, having received an order from the
General, who wished to know, absolutely, what I had seen M. Constant do
at Gombroon. ' If it is to say what I have seen,' I replied, ' I shall
do so willingly, but I desire to speak in the presence of the judges.'
Next morning the officer did not fail to summon me. I followed him
forthwith, and when I entered the chamber, the President asked me at
first if I would tell them something of what I had seen of M. Constant.
I said, ' I would satisfy him, and that I desired to give the account
at full length,' with which reply the President and Council told me
they were quite content. As they had ordered silence for me, and I saw
they awaited with impatience what I had to say to them, I spoke in the
following terms :—
'
The day M. Constant disembarked at Gombroon the Khan or Governor of the
town and country made much of him, and kept him to supper, together
with those who had accompanied him. The repast was magnificent, and the
dishes were much better prepared than usual; I have been
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