But, as the orange chevalier drew near the Petit Châtelet, where many malefactors were then confined, three young noblemen, having just crossed the Petit Pont, noticed the crowd, and, hearing it said that Giovanni had been arrested, forced their way through the spectators until they reached the Gascon, at whom everybody was pointing, saying:
"That is the famous bandit!"
Thereupon, to the vast amazement of the multitude, the three young gentlemen roared with laughter; then they seized the malefactor's hands and pressed them cordially, while he exclaimed:
"Gad! this is very lucky! Sandis! here are some friends who know me, at last! It's Sénange and Monclair!—Can you believe, messieurs, that these people absolutely insist that I am the celebrated robber Giovanni?"
"You, Giovanni? Poor Passedix!"
"Poor! Deuce take it! he has not been poor since he inherited a fortune!"
"Who is it that is fool enough to take you for the Italian brigand?"
"That infamous little clothes dealer yonder! But, by Roland! I will have satisfaction for his insults!"
"Pardieu!" said Sénange, "it happens that Captain Raynold is on duty at the Châtelet, and he knows our friend Passedix."
A captain of archers came from the prison at that moment to inquire the cause of the commotion; when he saw Passedix, with whom he had more than once drunk and played cards at wine shops, he offered him his hand, which fully satisfied the crowd that they had made a mistake and that the prisoner was not Giovanni.