Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-05-23

"None that / know Of" t answered.
sit is not probable"
"Let monsieur think again. Is he
positive ?"
"Qaite So" I repeated.
The question seemed rather an odd
One, ESPECIALLY from the fact that he
pressed it 60. But / had not long to
think about it, for. presently the chief
rose, and made a sign to the gendarmes,
and politely said:
"Monsieur and madam, it is my un-
pleasant duty to hold you as prisoners
until further instructions are received
from Madrid"
MAY 1 send dispatch ?" asked.
"May I write letter, subject to your
official inspection?'
"No."
"Can I take no action toward estab.
lisbing my identity and demanding my
lIberty?"
''None at present."
I saw then that, for the moment, il
was hopeless; there was nothing to do
but to submit with the best grace pos.
sible, trusting to time for redress. Mad
am in the meantime was curious
study. Considering the embarrassment
in Which my politeness to her had in
volved me, she was by no means as pro-
fuse in her expressions of regret as her
gushing volubillty in the morning would
have. induced me to expect. On the con-
trary, since the arrest she had appeared
calm, reserved, and at times l might
almost have SAID satisfied with the stu
alton. She had not even once said she
was sorry. But then perhaps it was
natural. I reflected; she might think
that it was her being with me that had
caused Der arrest. But no; The dispatch
read, "Mme. Motto and male COM
paniop." 1t was che who was evidently
the principal game 10 be bagged-and
che hadn't even apologized to me for
letting me be the male companion in
question. Her changed manner pro-
voked me. She looked prettier, if pos
sible, than ever, but there was cold,
defiant smile that played now and then
about the corners of her rosy lips that
made me certain she was thinking of
other matters of far more interest than
what was to become of me. Still, for
po]lteness' sake, l ventured to say, as
the gendarmes escorted us out! "Your
husband, medame-does he expect you
at Madrid by that particular train ?"
my husband she replied, laugh
ing ironically. mo. rather think not,
monsieur" and without another word
we entered carriage and were driven
off to the jail.
Where madam was put after our arri-
val there I know not. i trust, notwith.
standing my pardonable subsequent dis
gust With her, that the quarters assigned
her we're more habitable than mine were,
for she was destined fortunately to re-.
main for longer term than I was. II
was about 3 in the afternoon when ]
found myself under lock and key in a
wretched little room. lighted by one
grated window, overlooking paved
court in which sentry with fixed
bayonet was pacing up and down. ]
fervently wished bad stayed behind at
Borde aux in my comfortable quarters al
Nicollet's, and + heartily cursed the hour
when that worthy Boniface had put into
my head the notion of visiting Spain.
However, I tried to be philosopher,
and calmly awaited new developments.
They came sooner than I had dared to
hope. About 6 o'clock the door was I'm.
locked, and the keeper made sign fol
me to follow. A gendarme was awaiting
me With carriage, and few minutes
later found me once more at the Office
and in the presence of the chief OF
police.
Monsieur" he said, rising ard bow
Jog politely as I entered, "thero has
been, it appears, a mistake, but how OF
to what extent. I am not fully advised.
There are, however, good reasons for be.
Iieving that you are not the individual
referred to in the dispatch as Nine.
Notes male companion. The circum.
stance of your ali ghting from the train
with her, and entering the railway sta.
ton in her company, justified, you will
admit, the suppo=ition that you were
that person. But, I repeat, there APP
pears to have been great mistake some
where
"Am then at liberty p I asked.
"For the present to the extent of be-
ing allowed to lodge where you will, but
under surveillance, and with the under
standing that you do not leave the city.
"That is scarcely liberty" replied I.
"Parbleu," he exclaimed, smiling
II am doing the best I can for you. 81
patient. I have suspected from the first
that you were not the man we wanted
Did any other gentleman speak with thu
madam on the train ?"
"None that know Of; there was an
other man in our compartment, but hi
|'seemed to be asleep most of the time
He might have spoken with her while
was out once or twice at way stations
but he certainly exchanged no word'
with her in my presence"
"Where did this man enter the
train ?"
"He was in the carriage already wher
I got in at Bordeaux"
"What sort of a man was he in ap'
pearance?"
I described the cenaneis-voyageur pas
senger to him as well as could from
memory.
"Would you know him again if you
saw him p
81 think so.'''
He pulled the bell-rope, the doo1
opened, and in marched my late fellow:
passenger under guard. He started al
seeing me.
"Is that the man ?" asked the chief.
eyes," replied, "that is he."
"Monsieur," continued the chief, "is
now at liberty under the conditions
have named. trust the matter will bf
fully cleared up before morning 60 thai
monsieur may be able to resume hif
journey"
81 certainly hope so" said I, bidding
him goodnight.
The surveillance of which he advised
me was, at all events, not obtrusive. NJ
doubt he was promptly and duly in
formed that I took q room on the frs
floor at the Hotel de France, that dis.
patched table d'hote dinner with 9
voracious appetite, that I smoked ciga,
afterward with all the 0tiuna and sang
frcsd of one who had never been thu
object of official suspicion, and that pre-
cisely Of quarter before g, very tired
and sleepy, and yawnjng at every step
wendell my lonely way upstairs to bed