cut open
the mattress and searched for stolen jewellery or bank-notes.

"It's no use, m'sieur; there is nothing here," Carlier assured the
commissary. "We have not done a job for a long time."

"Are you sure that 'The American' has it all?" asked the official
earnestly.

"I've already told m'sieur," was "The Eel's" reply. "And, further, may I
crave a favour?"

"What is that?"

"To speak alone with you just for a moment. I want to tell you
something--for your ear alone."

The official was instantly suspicious. But, as the prisoner was securely
handcuffed, there was, he saw, no danger.

So he permitted him to pass inside the disordered bedroom, and then he
closed the broken door.

CHAPTER XII.

THE FATE OF "THE AMERICAN."

"Monsieur," said Carlier, in a low, confidential voice, when they were
alone, "though I may be a thief, and under arrest, I am still a son of
France, am I not?"

"I suppose so," replied the commissary, rather puzzled.

"Well," said the man before him, "if you keep observation upon the Baron
de Rycker, you will find that what he has lost he well deserved to
lose."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that the Baron is a spy--a secret agent of Germany."

The commissary looked at him sharply, and asked:

"How do you know that?"

"Ansell told me."

"Are you quite certain?"

"Quite. Ansell has done some jobs for him, and has been well paid for
them. He has acted as a spy for our enemies."

"A spy as well as a thief--eh?"

"Exactly, m'sieur. Ansell has been in the Baron's pay for nearly two
years."

"But this allegation is quite unsubstantiated. The Baron de Rycker is
well known and highly popular in Paris. He moves in the best society,
and the Ministers frequently dine at his table."

"I know that, m'sieur. But search that safe in the little room
upstairs--the safe we opened. Go there in pretence of examining our
finger-prints, and you will find in the safe quantities of compromising
papers. It was that collection of secret correspondence which we were
after when the alarm-bell rang. We intended to secure it and sell it
back to Germany."

"If what you say is really true, Carlier, our friends in Berlin would
probably give you quite a handsome price for it," replied the official
thoughtfully.

He had watched the thief's face, and knew that he was telling the truth.

"Will you have inquiries made?" urged the thief.

"Most certainly," was the reply. "And if I find you hav