The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-03-31
THE SPY SYSTEM IN PARIS.


The following is letter published in the GIosgo,o
Daily 1NdiI of the Sth:
"SIR,-May ask the publicity of your columns for
brief account of some incidents which have han
pened to me in Paris, where | have been residing
for nearly seven wears?
81 was sauntering yesterday afternoon with
friend in the Champs Elysces. The aspect of
this noble promenade was STRANGELY chanrcd-
The benches upon which the Parisians usually sit
in the sun all deserted. Loungers of all
nations made the Champs Elvsees ordinarily
sort OF living and moving chronological museum:
but yesterday the most notable figures were n num-
Der of new and sinister faces some of whom
might have been taken for miserable, and some of
them for genteel beggars. | observed them trying
tooverhear the converse tOn Ofmyself and my friend
which happened to be only about the French taste in
horses and equipages Looking shabby little in
dlvldual | said to my friend, but not loud enough
to be heard, That is spy; and my friend ex-
claimed, w hat vilainous face = While we were
looking at him, he came up to me- and addressinp
me in Italian, obscquousy begged a few 'oboli' or
small coins. Turning to my friend, said in French
4 believe he is a beggar.' When put my hand to
my pocket to give him aims, the spy seized me bv
the left arm, and told me that was an Italian and
he was an 'lnspettore.' | said, SO thought He
told me he desired little conversation with me-
and that must go with him to the commssary OF
police. My friend, believing | was talking with
beggar, was looking at the carriages when | called
out to him, 4 am arrcstedn The inspector said my
friend must come as well. On way to the Of
nee OF the commiSsary, the excited little in
spector told me ! spoke Italian, and was an
Italian and that it was useless for me to deny
1T. The inspector then commenced a formal in
terrogation. what is your namc?' | gave him
my card You are an Italian. You understand
Italian What are you doing in Paris?' Il will
answer that question to Monsieur the Commits
sary.' 'Ah! well, you refuse to tell what Won
are" Seeing me arrested, and held by the arm
several elderly gentlemen and ladies darted at
me looks of terror and horror. In the office of the
commiSsary the Inspector said he could not believe
my card, because myself and my friend were walk
ing with an air suspect in a suspicious manner.
Moreover, knew he belonged to the police This
correct guess seemed to have given him great of
fence. Now, to avoid detecting spies is difficult
for they display what they are by the insoent
CLEANS OF conscious power always darting from
their eyes. The secretary of the commissary, for
tunately for me- answered he was sure, and would
answer for it, that not Italian but an Eng
ishman long resident in the neighborhood but he
turned to my friend and said, 'And you sir, of what
nation your The suddenness of the question
taking my friend aback, was obliged to answer for
hm-Monsieur is Russian The Inspector then
said to me- Il beg pardon Looking at him stead
tastly, said oh! there many roscats about
you cannot be too Jealous
"Luckily for me this incident happened where |
ian but Russian; otherwise | should have suffered
some days imprisonment and my daughter DAYS
and nights of agony, Just because a French inspec-
tor mistook Scotch Highlander for an Italian CON
spiratOr."