"Let us at least smoke a pipe of tobacco before we go," said Gaillard, bringing out smoking materials from the closet. "No time, citizen; as it is we may get in trouble through Jean's indulgence in the bottle." The short gendarme certainly showed the effect of the wine he had taken, though he straightened up and denied it. "Pierre, thou liest, thou hast taken twice the quantity I have," he rejoined, waving his hand toward the empty bottles. This also was true; and Gaillard looked with wonder at the solemn countenance of the tall gendarme. "In any case, let us light our pipes and smoke them as we go along the street," said the actor as he filled the pipes and handed one to each of the police officers. "I'm quite agreeable to that," said Gendarme Pierre. Gendarme Jean made no reply, but endeavored to light his pipe over the flame of the candle. Through a defect in vision occasioned by his potations, he held the bowl several inches away from the flame and puffed vigorously. At this the tall gendarme laughed audibly for the first time during the evening. Gaillard felt relieved. "He can laugh," he murmured. "Wait one moment and I will give you a light," he said, and taking a piece of paper from the chimney-piece he carelessly twisted it in his fingers, ignited it in the candle's flames, and held it over Jean's pipe. Then he repeated the service to Gendarme Pierre, and ended by lighting his own pipe, holding the offending list until the flame touched his fingers and it was entirely consumed. "Forward, my children!" cried the stout gendarme gayly. "We must be off. Shall we place seals upon the doors, comrade?" he said addressing his friend Pierre. "No, my little idiot Jean, you will remember we are not supposed to have come here at all. The seals will be placed here by men from the section. Hurry forward now." They descended the stairs in single file. The tall gendarme leading, and stout Jean bringing up the rear. He would stumble from time to time and strike his head into Gaillard's shoulders. "Very awkward stairs," he would murmur in apology, "very awkward." Once in the street he got along better, although his knees were a little weak, and he showed an inclination to sing. "Be quiet, Jean," expostulated his companion in arms; "you will get both of us in trouble." "As mute as a mouse, my clothespin," was the obedient reply. "You would better take his arm, citizen actor. We shall get along faster." Gaillard complied, and arm in arm they walked off in the direction of the Luxembourg. "What's this?" demanded the warden in the prison lodge, rubbing his sleepy eyes as three men appeared before him in the gray light of early morning. "Hector Gaillard, actor; domicile Rue des Mathurins 15; suspect. Warrant executed by Officers Pierre Echelle and Jean Rondeau," said the tall gendarme. The sleepy guardian turned over the pages of his book. "Ah yes, here it is. Bring your prisoner this way, citizen gendarme."