Turk was eyeing him as if to say, Shall we? Jack mounted him and Turk began to gallop down the alley without being told to. The alarm had gone up. So as Jack thundered out into the Place Royale, sparks flying from his mount's new shoes, the wind blowing his cape out behind him – in other words, cutting just the silhouette he'd intended – he turned round and pointed back into the alley with his sword and shouted: "Les Vagabonds! Les Vagabonds anglaises!' And then, catching sight of the bulwark of the Bastille rising above some rooftops, under a half-moon, and reckoning that this would be a good place to pretend to summon reinforcements – not to mention a way out of town – he got Turk pointed in that direction, and gave him free rein.