On the
threshold of No. 43 the officer named Jules said--
"Your key, monsieur--the key of your room. I will take charge of it.
Monsieur the Judge will no doubt make a searching perquisition, and no
one must enter it till then."
The door was locked, M. Jules put the key in his pocket, and the party
went down to the cab, which was driven off rapidly to the depot of the
Prefecture.
Here the usual formalities were gone through. Rupert Gascoigne, as the
Englishman was called, was interrogated, searched, deprived of money,
watch, penknife, and pencil-case; his description was noted down, and
then he was asked whether he would go into the common prison, or pay
for the accommodation of the _pistole_ or private "side."
For sixteen sous daily they gave him a room to himself, with a little
iron cot, a chair, and a table. Another franc or two got him his
breakfast and dinner, and he was allowed to enjoy them with such
appetite as he could command.
No one came near him till next morning, when he was roused from the
heavy sleep that had only come to him after dawn by a summons to
appear before the _Juge d'instruction_.
He was led by two policemen to a little room, barely furnished, with
one great bureau, or desk, in the centre, at which sat the judge, his
back to the window.
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