402 ALEXANDRIA. 
CHAP, nearer, he plainly perceived a soldier level- 
> ling his musket at his breast, exclaiming at the 
same time, with a broad Scotch dialect, " JVhds 
that says Citoyen? — gee the richt ivord, or you re a 
deed man I'' Had this happened during the 
negotiation for the surrender of the city, the 
honest Highlander would not, perhaps, have 
acted with so much forbearance; but the French 
and the English sentinels were then standing 
close to each other, and it was probably nothing 
more than a vaunt of his patriotism in the 
presence of his enemy. Some difficulty, too, oc- 
curred at the inner gates, which had never 
before happened; the sentinels there refusing 
to lower the drawbridge without a written order 
from Menou. We offered to shew our passport, 
signed by General Rene; but must have passed 
the night upon the sands, if one of our party 
had not resorted to a stratagem, and pretended 
being the bearer of despatches to the French 
Commander-in-chief. We were then allowed 
to enter ; and being conducted by a sentinel to 
head-quarters, were permitted, after explaining 
what had happened, to return to our lodgings. 
The fifteenth was passed chiefly in taking 
leave of our friends, and in preparations for our 
voyage to Greece. We obtained permission, 
