‘Mon Dieu, uncle,’ he replied, ’there was a foreigner, a Spaniard, who came to our place in the Rue Montorgueil and bought a large amount of drugs, and has not paid us, so I am going after him to find out if he has not given us a wrong address.’  ’And that Spaniard is in both the cabs?’ ‘No, uncle, he is only in one, the first.’  ‘And who is in the second?’ ’I don’t know, probably another creditor, like myself, in pursuit of the Spaniard.’  ’Well, I am going to stay with you; I have two hours to myself before the train leaves at five o’clock and I adore this sort of thing, riding around Paris in an open carriage.  Let’s follow the Spaniard!’ And then the chase commenced, down the boulevards, across the squares, through the streets, the three drivers cracking their whips and urging their horses on.  This man-hunt began to get exciting.  It recalled to my mind the romances in the Petit Journal.  Finally, in a little street, belonging to the Temple Quarter, the first cab stopped.”

“The Spaniard?”

“Yes.  A man got out of it—­he had a large hat drawn down over his eyes and a big muffler wrapped about his neck.  Presently three gentlemen, who had jumped from the second cab, rushed upon that man.  I wanted to do the same, but Joseph tried to prevent me.  ‘Don’t stir, uncle!’ ’Why not?  But they are going to deprive us of the Spaniard!’ And I dashed forward.  ’Take care, uncle, don’t be mixed up in that affair.’  But I was already gone.  When I arrived they were putting the handcuffs on the Spaniard.  I broke through the crowd which had collected, and cried, ’Wait, Messieurs, wait; I also demand a settlement with this man.’  They made way for me.  ’You know this man?’ asked one of the gentlemen from the second cab, a short, stout fellow.  ‘Perfectly; he is a Spaniard.’  ‘I a Spaniard!’ ‘Yes, a Spaniard.’  ‘Good,’ said the short, stout man, ‘Here’s the witness!’ and, addressing himself to one of the men, ‘Take Monsieur to the Prefecture immediately.’  ’But I have not the time; I live in Versailles; my wife expects me by the five o’clock train, and we have company to dinner, and I must take home a pie.  I will come back to-morrow at any hour you wish.’  ‘No remarks,’ said the short, stout man, ‘but be off; I am the Police Commissioner.’  ’But, Monsieur the Commissioner, I know nothing about it; it is my nephew Joseph who will tell you,’ and I called ‘Joseph!  Joseph!’ but no Joseph came.”

“He had decamped?”

“With the victoria.  They packed me in one of the two cabs with the detective, a charming man and very distinguished.  Arriving at the Prefecture, they deposited me in a small apartment filled with vagabonds, criminals, and low, ignorant people.  An hour after they came for me in order to bring me up for examination.”

“You were brought up for examination?”