flambeau that was to show him to justice. Hotot was watched, and in the afternoon I learned that he was in the Champs Elysées with Félicité. I went to him there, and taking him aside, told him that I required him on an affair of extreme importance.
"You must know," I said, "you are to be apprehended and taken to prison, where you must pump a cove that we shall nab this evening. As you will be in quod before him, he will not take you for a sneak, and when he in brought in you can easily plant yourself upon him."
Hotot accepted the proposition with joy. "Ah!" he exclaimed, "I am then a spy once more! You may rely on me, but I must first take leave of Félicité." He went towards her, and as the hour of nocturnal seductions, or padding the pavé for the amorously disposed, was nigh, she was not angry with him for leaving her so soon.
"Now you have got rid of the mot, I will give you instructions. You know the little ken on the boulevard Montmartre in front of the Theatre des Variétés?"
"Yes, Brunet's."
"Well, go there and seat yourself at the further end of the room with a bottle of beer, and when you see two of the inspectors of the officer of peace, Mercier, enter-you know them?"
"Know them! do you ask me such a question, who am an old trooper?"
"Well, as you know them it will be all right: when they come in, make them a sign that it is you, that they may not mistake you for any other person."
"You be easy, they will not mistake me."
"You know it will be disagreeable if they should lay hands on some unlucky citizen."
"Oh! there shall be no mistake, I shall be there, and then the signal agreed on. The signal will do all."
"You understand clearly?"
"Yes, do you take me for a fool? I will not give them the trouble to take a second glance."
