longer the man would be in a
state of drunken imbecility which would not only render it impossible
for him to guide me to his room, but likely cause both of us to be
arrested by the police. I tried persuasion, and he laughed at me; I
tried threats, whereat he scowled and cursed me as a renegade from
England. At last the liquor overpowered him, and his head sunk on the
metal table and the dark blue cap fell to the floor.

* * * * *

I was in despair, but now received a lesson which taught me that if a
man leaves a city, even for a short time, he falls out of touch with
its ways. I called the waiter, and said to him,--

'Do you know my friend here?'

'I do not know his name,' replied the garcon, 'but I have seen him
many times at this cafe. He is usually in this state when he has
money.'

'Do you know where he lives? He promised to take me with him, and I am
a stranger in Paris.'

'Have no discontent, monsieur. Rest tranquil; I will intervene.'

With this he stepped across the pavement in front of the cafe, into
the street, and gave utterance to a low, peculiar whistle. The cafe
was now nearly deserted, for the hour was very late, or, rather, very
early. When the waiter returned I whispered to him in some anxiety,--

'Not the police, surely?'

'But no!' he cried in scorn; 'certainly not the police.'

He went on unconcernedly taking in the empty chairs and tables. A few
minutes later there swaggered up to the cafe two of the most
disreputable, low-browed scoundrels I had ever seen, each wearing a
dark-blue cap, with a glazed peak over the eyes; caps exactly similar
to the one which lay in front of Simard. The band of Apaches which now
permeates all Paris has risen since my time, and Simard had been
mistaken an hour before in asserting that Valmont was familiar with
their haunts. The present Chief of Police in Paris and some of his
predecessors confess there is a difficulty in dealing with these
picked assassins, but I should very much like to take a hand in the
game on the side of law and order. However, that is not to be;
therefore, the Apaches increase and prosper.

The two vagabonds roughly smote Simard's cap on his prone head, and as
roughly raised him to his feet.

'He is a friend of mine,' I interposed, 'and promised to take me home
with him.'

'Good! Follow us,' said one of them; and now I passed through the
morning streets of Paris behind three cut-throats, yet knew t