I was not born at the time of the Crimean War, and know nothing
whatever of the battles of the Alma, Inkermann, and Balaclava.
I really only require breakfast, and have no intention of sketching the
walls of that fortress.
I was asking the waiter to clean my boots, and not for information
concerning the strength of the garrison.
I was not aware that the place had been declared a naval port, and was
therefore sacred from foreign invasion.
As a matter of fact, I was not searching for torpedoes, but only taking
a sea bath.