is any stretch whatever, for, as I
understand the case, the prisoners are to remain virtually in your
custody until their departure from France, for which you have pledged
your word to the Procureur de la Republique. Hence the favor you ask
shall be cheerfully granted."

As he concluded the Juge d' Instruction glanced at the Deputy Procureur,
who nodded assent.

The magistrate touched a bell that stood on his desk and said to the
gardien de la paix who answered the summons:

"Bring in the prisoners."

Monte-Cristo and the Deputy retired from the platform, seating
themselves in a couple of fauteuils placed at a table immediately in
front of the Juge's desk.

As the two Italians were brought in Peppino glanced first at the
magistrate on the bench and then at the Deputy. Finally his eyes rested
on the Count, when his countenance instantly lighted up; he
instinctively felt that Monte-Cristo's mysterious influence had been
fully as potent with the authorities of Paris as with Luigi Vampa and
his band, that the wonderful man had succeeded in effecting the
liberation of himself and Beppo.

"Place the prisoners at the bar," said the Juge d' Instruction,
addressing the gardien.

This order was instantly complied with and the two Italians stood facing
the magistrate.

"Remove your hats."

The prisoners obeyed, Peppino with a confident smile, Beppo with a
sullen scowl.

"Prisoners at the bar," said the Juge d' Instruction severely, "you are
charged with the offense of picking pockets upon the public street. What
have you to say?"

This formal and rather menacing beginning was both a surprise and a
disappointment to Peppino. He glanced inquiringly at Monte-Cristo, but
could read nothing in his pale, handsome face; then with a dark frown he
made answer to the Juge, in a harsh, defiant tone:

"I am not guilty!"

The magistrate glanced at Beppo who in his turn repeated his comrade's
words.

Here the Deputy Procureur arose and said to the Juge d' Instruction, in
a full, clear voice:

"May it please you, honored Juge, as the representative of the Procureur
de la Republique I desire to state that it is not my intention to push
the charge against the prisoners at the bar. For this course I have a
good and sufficient reason. I, therefore, in my official capacity demand
that the persons calling themselves Peppino and Beppo be discharged."

This demand was another surprise to Peppino, but he instantly divined
that Mon