"Be careful! The hotel people saw you!" he warned. M. Merivel glanced uneasily at his partner for a cue, but Perissard was afraid to give him a sign.
"They must have made a mistake, M. the President!" he said, at last, with a great assumption of firmness.
"Oh, what an ass!" growled his partner fiercely.
M. Valmorin rose suddenly.
"M. the President," he said, "the attitude of these two men is distinctly suspicious, and, by virtue of Article 330 of the Code of Criminal Instruction, I ask you to order their immediate arrest for perjury!"
M. Perissard bounded up with agility that fitted strangely with his corpulent figure.
"Look here!" he shouted angrily, "it isn't my fault if that fool——"
"Who are you calling a fool?" demanded his partner, advancing belligerently.
"Gendarmes, remove those two men!" commanded the President.
"I protest——" began M. Merivel, loudly, holding up his hand.