CHAPTER II.

ARREST AND INTERROGATION.


The Hôtel Versailles and St. Cloud was one of the best hotels of Paris
at this time, a time long antecedent to the opening of such vast
caravansaries as the Louvre, the Continental, the Athenée, or the
Grand. It occupied four sides of a courtyard, to which access was had
by the usual gateway. The porter's lodge was in the latter, and this
functionary, in sabots and shirt-sleeves, was sweeping out the
entrance when the police arrived in a cab, which they ordered to wait
at the door.

"M. Gascoigne?" asked the agent.

"On the first floor, number forty-three," replied the porter, without
looking up. "Monsieur has but just returned," he went on. "Knock
gently, or you may disturb him in his first sleep."

"We shall disturb him in any case," said the police-officer, gruffly.
"Justice cannot wait."

"The police!" cried the porter, now recognising his visitors for the
first time. "What has happened, in Heaven's name?"

"Stand aside; we have no time to gossip," replied the agent, as he
passed on.