"It occurred to me that we had gone far enough, and that I did not need police protection any longer. I said so, adding:
"'Where are you taking me, my friends? To the railway-station, or to the steamboat?'
"They laughed. It is not often that a policeman laughs, but these policemen laughed like countrymen at the theatre seeing their first farce.
"'Where are we taking you?' they cackled, with horrible grimaces.
"'Precisely. That is my question?'
"'Well, to the prison, of course. Where else?'
"'To the prison, indeed! But I am under police protection!'
"They roared with laughter.
"'Under police protection! It is a way of putting it, when one has a light heart and loves a joke.'
"'A joke'?"