Part 20 (1/2)
heads
Aristide stared for two seconds; it seeht his partner again, and with a ”_Allons, Hop!_”
raced back to theThere, in the crush, he uncereates
His friend the brigadier happened to be on duty He unent aside, and breathless, half-hysterical, acquainted hiht, _mon vieux!_ There at the end of the Avenue you will find the fro Ah! you police people with your tape-as! It is I, Aristide Pujol, who have to conan to teach you your business!”
”What do you want adier stolidly
”Do?” cried Aristide ”Do you think I want you to kiss theenerally do with thieves in Perpignan?”
”Arrest theadier
”_Eh bien!_” said Aristide Then he paused--possibly the dra him ”No, wait Go and find them Don't take your eyes off them I will run and fetch Monsieur le Maire and he will identify his property--_et puis nous aurons la scene a faire_”
The stout brigadier grunted an assent and rolled , his heart exulting, ran to the Mayor's house He was rather a panting triunan He had discovered the thief He was the hero of the town Soon would the wedding bells be playing He envied the marble of the future statue He would like to be on the pedestal himself
He dashed past the maid-servant who opened the door and burst into the pri to retire for the night Madeone to bed
”_Mon Dieu_, what is all this?” she cried
”Madalorious news I have found the thief!”
He told his tale Where was Monsieur le Maire?
”He has not yet coo and find him,” said Aristide
”And waste ti up a black silk shawl ”I will co of my sainted sister Philomene Who should know it better than I?”
”As you like, Madame,” said Aristide
Two minutes found them on their journey Mada with springing step
”They don't make metal like me, nowadays,” she said scornfully
When they arrived at the gate of the Avenue, the police on guard saluted The nan
”Monsieur,” said Aristide, in lordly fashi+on, to a policeh the crowd for Madaadier Pesac to arrest the burglar who broke into the house of Monsieur le Maire?”
Thethe path with the uncere his arloriously As the iress continued the revellers ceased their revels and followed in the wake of Aristide At the end of the Avenue Brigadier Pesac was on guard He approached