course, where I am employed."

The magistrate's face looked more and more benevolent. He asked next,--

"And that is a good place,--to be waiter at a restaurant or a hotel?"

"Why, yes--pretty good."

"They pay well; eh?"

"That depends,--sometimes they do; at other times they don't. When it is
the season"--

"That is so everywhere. But let us be accurate. You have been now
eighteen months in Saigon; no doubt you have laid up something?"

The man looked troubled and amazed, as if he had suddenly found out that
the apparent benevolence of the magistrate had led him upon slippery and
dangerous ground. He said evasively,--

"If I have put anything aside, it is not worth mentioning."

"On the contrary, let us mention it. How much about have you saved?"

Bagnolet's looks, and the tremor of his lips, showed the rage that was
devouring him.

"I don't know," he said sharply.

The magistrate made a gesture of surprise which was admirable. He
added,--

"What! You don't know how much you have laid up? That is too improbable!
When people save money, one cent after another, to provide for their old
age, they know pretty well"--

"Well, then, take it for granted that I have saved nothing."

"As you like it. Only it is my duty to show you the effect of your
declaration. You tell me you have not laid up any money, don't you? Now,
what would you say, if, upon search being made, the police should find a
certain sum of money on your person or elsewhere?"

"They won't find any."

"So much the better for you; for, after what you said, it would be a
terrible charge."

"Let them search."

"They are doing it now, and not only in your room, but also elsewhere.
They will soon know if you have invested any money, or if you have
deposited it with any of your acquaintances."

"I may have brought some money with me from home."

"No; for you have told me that you could no longer live in Paris,
finding no work."

Crochard, surnamed Bagnolet, made such a sudden and violent start, that
the surgeon thought he was going to attack the magistrate. He felt he
had been caught in a net the meshes of which were drawing tighter and
tighter around him; and these apparently inoffensive questions assumed
suddenly a terrible meaning.

"Just answer me in one word," said the magistrate. "Did you bring any
money from France, or did you not?"

The man rose, and his lips opened to utter a curse; but he checked
himself, sat down again, and