The merchant obeyed, but before opening, he said again—"Who are you?"
"Your host; do you not recognize my voice?"
"Mon Dieu! what is the matter?"
"Why, it seems you talked rather too freely at table, and the mayor has been informed by some spy, and has sent to arrest you. Luckily, I thought of showing them your clerks' room instead of yours, so that they are busy upstairs arresting them."
"Can this be true?"
"Pure and simple truth. Make haste, and escape while you can."
"But my companions?"
"Oh! I will tell them."
And while the merchant dressed, the host awakened the others, and very soon they all disappeared, walking on the points of their toes, that they might not be heard.
"That poor hosier!" said they; "it will all fall on him; but it is true he said the most."