`` my only hope , '' hammond added , `` was that your arrival would bring an end to their doubts-that they could scarcely deny the evidence when you had appeared-but i called at the department of state this morning , and a staff-officer told me that if you would fight , you might go westward down the new smolensk road and report for duty to whichever colonel you found first ; but if i did not leave , he would lay hands on me and kick me all the way to the door .