? My confrere had no time allowed to him
to prosecute such inquiries. Whether Victor or the rich malcontent had
observed him at their heels, and feared he might have overheard their
words, I know not; but the next day appeared in one of the popular
journals circulating among the ouvriers a paragraph stating that a
Paris spy had been seen at Lyons, warning all honest men against his
machinations, and containing a tolerably accurate description of his
person. And that very day, on venturing forth, my estimable colleague
suddenly found himself hustled by a ferocious throng, from whose hands
he was with great difficulty rescued by the municipal guard. He left
Lyons that night; and for recompense of his services received a sharp
reprimand from his chief. He had committed the worst offence in our
profession, trop de zele. Having only heard the outlines of this story
from another, I repaired to my confrere after my last interview with
Monsieur, and learned what I now tell you from his own lips. As he was
not in my branch of the service, I could not order him to return to
Lyons; and I doubt whether his chief would have allowed it. But I went
to Lyons myself, and there ascertained that our supposed Vicomte had
left that town for Paris some months ago, not long after the adventure
of my colleague. The man bore a very good character generally,--was
said to be very honest and inoffensive; and the notice taken of him by
persons of higher rank was attributed generally to a respect for his
talents, and not on account of any sympathy in political opinions. I
found that the confrere mentioned, and who alone could identify M. de
Mauleon in the disguise which the Vicomte had assumed, was absent on one
of those missions abroad in which he is chiefly employed. I had to wait
for his return, and it was only the day before yesterday that I obtained
the following particulars. M. de Mauleon bears the same name as he
did at Lyons,--that name is Jean Lebeau; he exercises the ostensible
profession of a 'letter-writer,' and a sort of adviser on business among
the workmen and petty bourgeoisie, and he nightly frequents the cafe
Jean Jacques, Rue Faubourg Montmartre. It is not yet quite half-past
eight, and, no doubt, you could see him at the cafe this very night, if
you thought proper to go."

"Excellent! I will go! Describe him!"

"Alas! that is exactly what I cannot do at present; for after hearing
what I now tell you, I put the same request you d