It seemed evident to the Commissary of Valenciennes that General Changarnier was escaping from Ham under a false name with a false passport, and with false agents of police, in order to mislead the authorities, and that it was a plot to escape which was on the point of succeeding.
"Come down, all three of you!" exclaimed the Commissary.
The General gets down, and on putting foot to the ground notices Charras in the depths of his compartment between his two bullies.
"Oho! Charras, you are there!" he cries.
"Charras!" exclaimed the Commissary. "Charras there! Quick! the passports of these gentlemen!" And looking Charras in the face,—
"Are you Colonel Charras?"
"Egad!" said Charras.
Yet another complication. It was now the turn of Charras's bullies to bluster. They declared that Charras was the man called Vincent, displayed passports and papers, swore and protested. The Commissary's suspicions were fully confirmed.
"Very well," said he, "I arrest everybody."
And he handed over Changarnier, Charras, and the four police agents to the gendarmes. The Commissary saw the Cross of Honor shining in the distance. He was radiant.