"Y—n—no—er——"
"Let me see it."
Now, the poor cabman had lost no time fortifying himself with an absinthe or two upon leaving his fare in the terrible Rue Antoine Dubois. He had changed the piece given him by Jean Marot.
"I haven't got——"
"You said this man gave you a five-franc piece, didn't you? Now, did you, or did you not? Answer!"
"Yes, Monsieur le——"
"Where is it? You said you came straight to the Commissariat,—you haven't had time to get drunk. Show me the piece! Come!"
"I drove to—I——"
"Come! Out with it!"
"But, Monsieur le Commissaire——"