The agent did not know much. The day before, while under arrest, the prisoner had let fall some words by which Héron understood that his mother, arrested with a young girl he loved, was threatened with the scaffold. But since his imprisonment he had been completely mute. No one had been able to draw a word from him, and things would have very likely remained thus had not Madame Beaugrand, a lodging-house keeper of the Rue du Rocher, come to the police-station for the purpose of obtaining some particulars of the arrest, the news of which had reached her. From the description of the young man she fancied he might be one of her lodgers, who had arrived the day before, and inscribed himself under the name of Germain, blacksmith's apprentice. Brought face to face with the prisoner, she exclaimed immediately, "Oh yes! it is he! most certainly!" "And his papers!" asked Robespierre. "He had none! Not even a passport! They had only found in his possession a set of keys, some paper-money in _assignats_, a pocket-book, and some small change in a purse." As he spoke, Héron placed these articles on the table. "And no arms?" interposed Robespierre again. The police-agent replied in the negative. "Untie his hands. We shall see if they are a workman's." Duplay examined them, the women watching with great interest the while. The carpenter declared it to be very possible, as the hands looked used to handling wood and iron. "In war, most likely!" said Robespierre. The Incorruptible then stated his suspicions more precisely. The man was perhaps a _chouan_, come in disguise from Vendée to stab him in the excitement of the _fête_! The women cried out in horror at the thought, and added, "Of course he was not without accomplices!" As this idea fastened in his mind, Robespierre wished to know if the young man's room had been searched. Héron had not neglected to do so, as could well be imagined! He had, however, only found a few scattered clothes and a valise, which one of his men had with him. He had brought it to open before Robespierre. "Why didn't you say so, then? Be quick and open it!" Héron tried a set of keys, and after some delay the valise was unlocked. The police-agent examined its contents, and enumerated them: linen, articles of toilet, and an ivory casket mounted in silver. He took out the ivory casket, which drew a cry of admiration from mother Duplay, and passed it from hand to hand. Héron then drew forth a rather heavy roll, from which he tore the paper wrapper, disclosing a number of _louis d'or_. He deposited them on the table, and set to work to count them, remarking that the young apprentice was, after all, richer than himself! Meanwhile the agent continued his search. "Ah, some letters!" he exclaimed. "Give them to Lebas," said Robespierre. Lebas took the packet from the agent's hands. "Go and examine them by the mantelpiece under the lamp," Robespierre continued, "and tell me their contents."