He was received by a stout, red-faced superior officer, who at first refused to answer questions, but finally announced that the boy was suspected of espionage.
“May I ask upon what ground?” the Consul demanded politely.
“Upon several suspicious indications,” was the evasive reply; “he must be held for further examination.”
“But his passage to America is booked for the day after to-morrow,” urged the Consul. “He must leave Brussels to-day if he is to catch the ship.”
The other shrugged, saying indifferently, “I regret that is impossible.”
“But his pass has been given him, sir, and as I have personally vouched for his integrity, I consider it only fair you should tell me on what ’suspicious indications’ you hold him.”
After a lengthy and needless discussion, it was asserted that the boy’s notebook betrayed he had carried letters, and delivered them to several persons in the city.
At this Mr. Watts looked amazed. “Certainly,” he retorted; “he was in my employ for that purpose, and I can prove to you that every letter he conveyed related to legitimate consular business.”
After some more wrangling the notebook was produced, and this proven to be true, but the stubborn tyrant showed no sign of yielding. The proof could not be held as satisfactory until investigated. And so forth and so forth, until, after another half-hour of futile talk, the officer suddenly announced that the boy could on no condition be liberated without the payment of a fine.
“It will be a matter of two thousand francs or so,” he complacently added, confident of adding this amount to sums extorted daily from the inhabitants on one pretence or another. “Of course, as the boy has no means, payment may be made by anyone who....”