The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-10-09

aMousietir need not be particular Some.
thing, for example, which will prove 1t to be
his yalise, If it be found"
"Well," said /, and could see bv Caboulet's
face that he encouraged me in the resolution
to say no more than | could help about the
contents, Il have therein four shirts, some
collars and wristbands, some brushes, combs,
&c, the Emperor's Life of julius Caesar, and
some other books
"Just So" said the official. "Monsieur's va
lise will he easy to identify. What was the
number OF Monsieurs room at the hotel,
where his valise was deposited by the waiter
Ambrose?"
r 1 gave him the number, but protested that
IL was of no use 20 waste time in sending TO
the hotel. for both myself and my friend had
seen the man, Blatte, with the vallse in his
hand, go up the street.
eve always begin at the beginning" said
the police official, and accordingly he sent
two men to my room at the hotel.
In about fifteen minutes they returned. and
with them they brought my valise! 1 started
with surprise when saw it, and was still
more astonishsd when l heard that they had
found it in my room at the hotel!
does Monsieur recognize the valise, and
Will he open it himself, and verify the articles
by showing us some Of the contents he men
toned? said the official.
unlocked it, and glad to have the oppor-
tunity of manipulating its contents myself, l
took oat the few clothes had brought over
| from London, the bair-bruShes, the Life of
| julius Caesar, and one or two pamphlets, and
| guide books but, if had been intending to
| deceive the authorities in regard to the rest
of the contents, my conscience need not have
been troubled, for there was nothing else
in it.
Monsieur is correct. Those are the ar
ticles he mentioned. But Monsieur does not
seem satisfied. This is certainly his valise, is
1t not-and Its confents?"
L asked permission to consult with my
friend Caboulet, and having consulted with
him came to the conclusion 10 be satisfied,
and say no more.
was now certain that the whole thing
was police7job to relieve me of my "Lan-
ternes," as easily as possible. We left the
office with my valise (all the lighter for the
want of Ldnterues,) and without look or
word for Nj. Pierre Blatte, who overlook. and
passed us, on his way 10 his home and his
invalid vile. We went to the hotel, and
finished our wine and cigar. My friend Jean
Caboulet and myself both agreed that this
matter OF the contents of my vaise must have
become known to the authorities too late fol
them to take any but the rather extraordra
ry steps that had SO surprised and enraget
me. '
| That rascal had probably just succeeded in
| tracking me when he accosted me-" said
| "Had he been ten minutes later should have
| had my "Ldnternes" in England By this time
"Yes," said Jean CabouIet, "but then We
| should have had this pleasant EVENING"
The evening had not compensated me fol
| the loss of my "Ldnternes," but l was glai
that my good friend had enjoyed it. 10
| The next day, as, carrying my valise in IN.
| hand. and with n1ntV time hntnra mo
| was just stepping on to the pier of the Dove
boat saw policeman standing in the very
| small amount of shade afforded by tail, but
| slim post L walked up to him and as hi
| touched his hat to me-. and seemed about t.
| put on the penitential couptenance he haC
worn yesterday with his blue cap, and big
strap, said, "Never mind an apology, but tel
me all about the matter. There can be nc
harm in explaining to me how you managed
| to find out that carried LA Lanterne" in
| my valise. l am an American, as you see,
am going away, and shall not tell your SUI
periors anything that you may do or say t,
me-" Atif ~ f
'Ah, do not believe that Monsieur would
mjure me- for all that he is a little vi1len
sometimes" said the man, bowling, "but there
| is nothing to tell We knew that Monsieur
was carrying away prohibited matter, and these
means were taken to relieve him of it, with
our making disturbance. was sorry Twill
bowl to make Monsieur, miss the boat, bLt
there was so little time, for we were only in
| formed few minutes before the time for you
| to leave. l had no idea Monsieur would be
| SO sharp as to discover mo when l removed
the valise from the hotel, but it was taken back
to his room before 1 left my house, where
Monsieur surprised me so much"
But how did you people discover that
had those pamphlets?" said 1, dropping my
md nnxr,yNr e-.,.