Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-05-21
TIE SPY SYSTEM PARIS,

Inc followlng Is letter puDllshed IN the
Glasgow Daily Mail, not long since:
Sir-May ask the publicity of your
columns for brief account of some
incidents which have happened to me in
Paris, where l have been residing for
nearly seven years?
"Iwas sauntering yesterday afternoon
with friend in the Champs Elysccs. The
aspect of this promenade was strangely
changed. The benches upon which the
Parisians usually sit in the sun were all
deserted. Loungers ofal nations make
the Champs Elysecs ordinarily sort of
living and moving chronological museum
but yesterday the most notable figures were
number of new and sinister faces, some
Of whom might have been taken for miscra-
bic, and some Of them for gcntcel bcggars.
L observed them trying to overhear the
conversation Of myself and my friend,
which happened to be about the French
taste in horses and equipages. Looking
at a shabby little individual, l said to my
friend, but not loud enough to be heard,
That is a spy;' and my friend exclaimed,
What villainous facet While we were
looking at him, he came up to me, and ad-
dressing me in Italian, ooscquiously beg
ged few 'oboli,' or small coins. Turning
to my friend, said in French, 4 believe
he is beggar' When put my hand to
my pocket to give him aims, the spy seized
me by the left arm, and told me that l
was an Italian and he was an 'Inspettore.'
| said, so | thought He told me he de-
| siraI IN 1ittln with anJ
that | must 60 with him to the commissary
Of police.
My friend, believing was talking with
beggar, was looking at the carriages,
when l called out to him, II am arrested"
The inspector said my friend must come
as well. On our way to the office OF the
commissary, the excited little inspector told
me l spoke Italian, and was an Italian,
| and that it was useless for me to deny it.
The inspector then commenced formal
interrogation. "What isyour name!" l
gave him my card.-"You are an Italian.
You understand Italian.-What are you
doing in Paris ?"
Il will answer that questionto Monsieur
the Commissary," said |.
"Ah. well, you refuse to tell what you
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 inspec-
tor said he could not believe my card, be-
cause myself and my friend were walking
with an 'air suspect, or in suspicious
manner Moreover, knew he be-
longed to the police This correct
guess seemed to have given him great
offence. Now to avoid detecting spies is
not difficult, for they display what they
are by the insolent CLEANS of conscious
power always darting from their eyes. The
Secretary Of the commissary, fortunately
for me, answered he was sure, and would
answer for it, that l was not an Italian,
but an Engishman long resident in the
neighborhood; but he turned to my friend
and said.-'And you sir, of what nation
are you? The suddenness of the question
having taken my friend aback, was
obliged to answer for him Monsieur is
Russian The inspector then said to me,
Il beg pardon Looking at him steadfast-
ly, | said, 'Oh! there are SO many rascals
about you cannot be too jealous
Luckily for me, this incident happened
where was well known, and my compan-
ion was not an Italian, but a Russian /;
otherwise | should have suffered some days
Imprisonment, and my daughter days and
nights of agony, just because French in-
spector mistook Scotch Highlander for
an italian conspirator."