There was a long silence. Lanny kept his eyes on the commissaire, whose face wore a stern frown. The prisoner wouldn't have been entirely surprised if the man had said: “Take him out and shoot him now!” He was really surprised when he perceived a slow smile spreading over the features of the elderly official. “Eh blen, mon garçon” he said, finally. “If I let you have your way, will you promise to harbor no ill feelings?”
“Yes, sir,” said Lanny, as quickly as he was able to take in the meaning.
“Don't think that we are naive, M. Bloc-less,” said the commissaire to the painter. “We have investigated your story. We knew most of it before you came.”
“I was quite sure that would be the case,” replied Uncle Jesse, with one of his twisted smiles. “Otherwise I might not have come.”
“You are playing a dangerous game,” continued the other. “I don't suppose you wish any advice from me; but if we are forced to ask you to leave the country, it will not be without fair warning — now repeated for the second time.”
“If that misfortune befalls me, Monsieur, I shall be extremely sorry, for France has been my home for the greater part of my life. I shall be sorrier still for the sake of the republic, whose reputation as a shelter for the politically persecuted is the fairest jewel in her crown.”
“You are a shrewd man, M. Blocless. You know the language of liberty and idealism, and you use it in the service of tyranny and hate.”
“That is a subject about which we might argue for a long while, Monsieur le Commissaire. I don't think it would be proper for me to dispute with you in your professional capacity; but if at any time you care to meet me socially, I'll be most happy to explain my ideas.”
There was a twinkle in the elderly Frenchman's eye. Esprit is their specialty, and he knew a good answer when he heard it. He turned to Lanny. “As for you, mon garçon” — taking Lanny into the family — “it appears that you have been the victim of persons older and less scrupulous than yourself. Next time I would advise you to look at papers before you put them into your pocket.”
“I assure you, Monsieur,” said the youth, respectfully, “I intended to do it as soon as I got to my room.” This too had the light play of humor in which the French delight; so the commissaire said he hoped his guest hadn't minded his misadventure. Lanny replied that he had found the experience educational, and that stories of crime and detection would be far more vivid to him in future. The suitcase containing Robbie's papers was restored to Robbie's son, and the three officials shook hands with him — but not with Uncle Jesse, he noticed. “M. Bloc-less” was one of the “older and less scrupulous persons.”