"'You have rescued me, sir,' he said in a soft voice, with a peculiar accent, 'but you will not find me ungrateful.'
"'Who are you, and what am I to do for you?' I asked him.
"'I was thought to be an English spy in the service of the royalists,' he said, laughing sorrowfully, 'and the excited crowd threw me into the river. Fortunately, I did not lose my senses; I dived under, swam a short distance and then gained the bank.'
"'Then you are not an Englishman?' I asked.
"'I, an Englishman?' he repeated, with his eyes sparkling with rage; 'what are you thinking of?'
"'But who then are you?' I exclaimed.
"He looked searchingly at me.
"'You are young,' he then said, 'you do not know what betrayal is; I will confide in you! Besides, you are a Frenchman and hate the English as I do. Tell me where is the Emperor Napoleon at present?'
"'In Paris.'
"'Are you sure?'