The Washington herald., 1914-10-18

: hcially, and they have said they could
! not answer for his safety if he can't
privately"
shook my head gravely.
THAT means that his majesty has re.
solved to come in spite of them. And
/ am afraid that they know it."
Tmpossiblel" the ambassador deelar.
ed with conviction. They could know
it only If they were able to read our
cipher, and that is automatically secret
Il wish 1 could share your excel:
leneys opinion. But 1 am afraid the
Quai d'orsay is not easily caught nap
ping. Emperors are watched by more
eyes than they think"
The ambassador frowned thoughtful
ly.
Il am not sure that it is not my duty
to tell the French government" he said
after some consideration. IF anything
were to happen to the Kaiser in Paris
/ should be blamed. Unless / have
some fresh intelligence within the next
twenty-four hours, decidedly / think 1
shall go to NJ. Delcasse and ask him to
take steps to ascertain if the Emperor
is here"
I left his excellency fixed in that res
olution, and returned to await the
promised messenger from NJ. Regnault.
1t was just midnight and I was on
the point of going to bed, when heard
ring at the door of my little entresol
What an hourl" I calculated, as /
went to open it.
A gendarme stood outside, looking
half asleep and very unlike an agent
of my astute colleague
you come on the part of NJ. Reg
nault?" l asked in surprise.
"on the contrary, m'sieu, come on
the part of the Governor of Mazas."
/ drew back a step, startled by the
name of the formidable prison in which
France confines her most desperate
criminals
"a gang of apaches has been arrested
tonight outside the Pare Moneeau. One
of them persists in declaring his inno-
cence. He refuses to give his name,
but pretends that you will be able to |
identify him, and procure his release"
Where did you say the arrest took
place" I demanded, to gain time.
"In the Boulevard Courcelles, at the
corner of the Rue Prouy."
A little further cross-examination de-
eided me to accept the summons. !
took the precaution to change the cart
ridges in my revolver, and followed the
gendarme down to the carriage which
had brought him from MazaS.
The governor of the prison was wait
ing to receive me, and I was conducted
straight into his presence. l could see
that he was suffering from no slight
perturbation, though he tried to hide
his emotion under a severely Official
style of address
you have received my message,
and no doubt it has exactly
explained the situation to you" he OBJ
served. The prisoner of whom there
IS question, and whom can only des-
gnate for the present as Number 100,
was arrested with his companions in
The very act of committing a daring
robbery"
Nevertheless, this culprit has made
Ise of your name, and my scrupulous
'egard for justice, coupled with the
ligh reputation you possess for integ-
ity and discretion, has decided me to
Iive you the opportunity of communi-
ating with him. At the same time I
must warn you that any representations
ou may desire to make on his behalf
must be addressed to the minister of
ustice and not to me. l am the gov
NOR of this prison, and my duty is
D keep my prisoners until their release
ordered by my official superior. You
Nothing more passed between Us. At
signal from the governor, the warder
,ho had conducted me into his pres
nee reappeared and led me away
trough the corridors of the vast prison.
We stopped at length before a door y,
d which the number 100 was visible in X
rge white figures. My guide inserted
key in the lock and turned it, saving sc
he did so: Monsieur will knock to
hen he wishes to leave. shall be Pc
Inside" er
The next moment l was face to face m
ith the captive.
BY the dim light which penetrated re
e cell through a small window above
e door 1 saw a man dressed in the at
ouse of French workman; his fea- I
res were almost concealed by bushy tn
ack beard He was lying on a small yc
mp-bed and as took step forward be
al, z,,,elr1,,