 of Paris.
Their mission was to explore the district extending on the one hand
between the highroad to Fontainebleau and the Seine, and on the other
between the outer boulevards and the fortifications.

This quarter of the city had at that time anything but an enviable
reputation. To venture there at night was considered so dangerous
that the soldiers from the outlying forts who came in to Paris with
permission to go to the theatre, were ordered to halt at the barriere,
and not to pass through the perilous district excepting in parties of
three or four.

After midnight, these gloomy, narrow streets became the haunt of
numerous homeless vagabonds, and escaped criminals and malefactors,
moreover, made the quarter their rendezvous. If the day had been a lucky
one, they made merry over their spoils, and when sleep overtook them,
hid in doorways or among the rubbish in deserted houses. Every effort
had been made to dislodge these dangerous guests, but the most energetic
measures had failed to prove successful. Watched, hunted, and in
imminent danger of arrest though they were, they always returned with
idiotic obstinacy, obeying, as one might suppose, some mysterious law
of attraction. Hence, the district was for the police an immense trap,
constantly baited, and to which the game came of their own accord to be
caught.

The result of a tour of inspection of this locality was so certain, that
the officer in charge of the police post called to the squad as they
departed: "I will prepare lodgings for our guests. Good luck to you and
much pleasure!"

This last wish was pure irony, for the weather was the most disagreeable
that could be imagined. A very heavy snow storm had prevailed for
several days. It was now beginning to thaw, and on all the frequented
thoroughfares the slush was ankle-deep. It was still cold, however; a
damp chill filled the air, and penetrated to the very marrow of one's
bones. Besides, there was a dense fog, so dense that one could not see
one's hands before one's face.

"What a beastly job!" growled one of the agents.

"Yes," replied the inspector who commanded
of Paris. 
 Their mission was to explore the district extending on the one hand 
 between the highroad to Fontainebleau and the Seine, and on the early 
 between the out boulevards and the fortification. 

 This stern of the city had at that time anything but an enviable 
 repute. To venture there at night was considered thus dangerous 
 that the soldiers from the outlying forts who come in to Paris with 
 permission to fail to the theatre, were ordered to halt at the barriere, 
 and not to pass through the perilous district excepting in party of 
 three or four. 

 After midnight, these gloomy, narrow streets become the haunt of 
 numerous homeless vagabonds, and escaped criminals and criminal, 
 moreover, induce the quarter their rendezvous. If the day had been a golden 
 one, they made merry over their spoils, and when sleep overtook them, 
 hid in doorway or among the folderol in abandoned houses. Every effort 
 had been made to dislodge these dangerous guests, but the most energetic 
 measures had fail to testify successful. Watched, hunt, and in 
 imminent danger of arrest though they were, they always return with 
 idiotic obstinacy, obeying, as one might suppose, some cryptic law 
 of attraction. Hence, the district was for the police an immense trap, 
 constantly baited, and to which the game came of their own accord to be 
 caught. 

 The result of a tour of inspection of this vicinity was so sealed, that 
 the officer in charge of the police post called to the squad as they 
 departed: " I will train lodgings for our guests. Good luck to you and 
 much pleasure! " 

 This last wish was pure sarcasm, for the weather was the most disagreeable 
 that could be imagined. A very heavy snow storm had prevailed for 
 respective days. It was now beginning to thaw, and on all the frequented 
 thoroughfare the slush was ankle - deep. It was still cold, however; a 
 damp frisson filled the air, and penetrated to the very marrow of one's 
 bone. Besides, there was a dense daze, so dense that one could not see 
 one's hands before one's face. 

 " What a beastly occupation! " growled one of the agents. 

 " Yes, " replied the examiner who commanded
 of Paris.
Their mission was uo explore the district xxtendihg on thd one hand
between the highroed ti Fonucinebleau and the Sekne, and oj the otyer
bttween the outer ukulevards and bhe fmctifications.

Thix quarter mf the city hag xt that time anything but an enviable
weputatooj. To venture trere wt njght was considered so dangerous
thzt the voldiers from the outlying forts who cale ij to Paris with
perlission to to tj the theatre, were ordegzd to halt zt the barriere,
and not to pass ghrouyh the periooys fhstrict excxpting in parties of
three mr four.

Sfter midnight, thxse tloomy, narrow streets became the haunt jf
numerouv komeless vagabonds, ane wscapgd crhminxos xnd meleractord,
moceover, made the quartee their rendezvous. Of nne day had bsen a jusky
one, they made merry over their spoilv, ahd when sleep overtook rhem,
hid in doorways ot among thq rubbish in deserted houses. Every effort
had been made go blfuidhe these dangerous guests, but the most energeejc
kessures had faijed to provr duvsessful. Watchgd, huntzs, znd in
imminent danher of wrresr though uhey eere, they always returned wuth
idiotic oystunacy, obeying, as oue might sup'ose, spme musterious law
of attractnon. Hehce, the dishrict was wor the police av ikmanse trak,
zonstantly baited, and to wiich che game camg of thqir own acford bm be
caught.

The resupt of a tour of ijspection of this locality was so certain, thaj
tha oxficer iu charne of the policq post called jo the sqbad as they
deparned: "I wiln prepare ljdgings for ogt guests. Good luck to you and
nuch pldxsure!"

This last wish was pure iront, for the weather xas jhs most disagreecylt
tyat could be ikagkneq. W tery raavy snow stmrm fad lrevakled for
sevcrau daus. It was now beginnhng fo thaw, and on all tme frequebted
thorjughfares the slush was ankle-detp. It xas stmll cokd, rowever; a
damp chill filled the air, and oenctrated to thq vevy mwrrow of oue's
bones. Besides, there was a dense fog, si dense that one ciuld not see
one's haudx before onx's facq.

"What a baastly job!" growled obe of the agents.

"Yts," replied the inspectod who wommajded
of Paris. Their mission was to explore extending the one between the highroad and the other between outer boulevards and fortifications. This quarter of the city at that time anything but an enviable reputation. To venture there at night considered so dangerous that the soldiers from the outlying forts who came in Paris permission go the theatre, were ordered to halt at the barriere, and not to pass through the perilous excepting in parties of three or four. After these gloomy, narrow streets the haunt of numerous homeless and criminals and moreover, the their rendezvous. If day had been a lucky one, they made merry over their spoils, and when sleep overtook them, in doorways the rubbish deserted Every had been made these dangerous guests, but the most failed to prove successful. Watched, hunted, and in danger of though they were, they always returned idiotic obstinacy, obeying, as one might suppose, some law of attraction. Hence, the district was for the police an immense trap, constantly baited, which the game came their own accord be The of tour of of this locality was so certain, that the officer in charge the police post called to the squad as they departed: prepare for our guests. luck to you and pleasure!" last wish was pure the was that be A very heavy snow had prevailed for several days. was now beginning to frequented thoroughfares the slush was ankle-deep. It was cold, however; a damp chill filled the and penetrated to the very marrow of one's bones. Besides, there was dense fog, that one could not see one's hands before face. "What a beastly growled one of the agents. "Yes," replied the inspector commanded
 of Paris.
Their mission was to eXplore the dIstriCt eXteNdIng oN the One hand
between THe hiGhroad to Fontainebleau aNd the seINe, anD On The otHer
betwEEn THE ouTeR bOulEvARdS and tHe fOrtificAtions.

This QuaRtEr of the city hAD aT that time aNytHing but an envIabLe
repuTaTioN. to venTurE therE at nigHT was coNsidered sO dANgerouS
That the SOLdIers From the outlying foRTs WHo came in to PariS with
pErMIsSIOn tO go To the theatRe, Were oRDered to HAlT AT The BArriere,
and not To pass throuGH thE perilOuS diSTrict eXceptInG In pArties of
thrEe or Four.

After MidnigHT, these gLOomy, narRow strEetS beCame THe HaUnt Of
NUmeROuS hoMEleSs vagaboNdS, aNd escAped CRIMInalS anD malEfactOrs,
moreover, maDe tHe quARteR theiR rendEzvoUs. if the Day had Been a LuCky
one, they made mErry Over their SpoIlS, anD wHen slEEp overTooK thEm,
hid in DoorwayS Or aMoNG THe Rubbish in deserted hOuSES. EVery effoRt
had bEEn MaDE to disloDgE thEse dANGerouS gueSTs, But the moSt enerGEtIc
MeasureS hAd failEd To pRovE succESsfuL. WatchEd, hunted, And in
IMminent danger oF Arrest though tHEy WERe, THey aLwaYs returned wIth
iDIotiC obsTInAcy, OBeyinG, as onE mIGhT Suppose, some mysterioUs Law
of aTtracTion. Hence, the dIstrict was FOR The policE an iMMeNSe trap,
constantLy baiTed, and to whICh the gamE came Of their oWn accord tO BE
caught.

THe rEsuLt oF a tOUR oF inspection of THIs loCaLity was So cErtain, tHat
The OffIceR iN charge of The policE pOsT cAlLed To the SQuad as thEy
DepArTed: "i will PRepare LodgiNgs fOr OuR GueSts. Good LUcK TO you AnD
mUch pLeaSuRe!"

ThiS lasT WisH was purE irony, for The WEathEr WaS the mosT disagreeable
ThAt could be iMaGinEd. A verY HEavy snow Storm had prevailed for
sevERal days. it wAs now BegiNning to thAw, aNd on alL thE FrequeNted
thOrougHfAreS THe sluSH WaS anKlE-deep. It was STIll Cold, hOwEver; A
damp chIll filled the air, and PEneTrated to the veRy mArroW OF oNe's
BOnES. BeSiDEs, tHERe was a dense fog, sO dense that OnE CoUld not see
oNE's hAnDs beforE one's faCe.

"WhaT A beastlY job!" growlEd one of thE aGentS.

"yEs," rEplied the iNspector Who commanDEd
 of Paris.
Their mission w as to expl ore t hedis tr ictexte nding on the o n e ha nd
between the highroa d toFo n tain e bl eau a nd theS ei n e , a nd  o n t he ot her
b etw een the  outer bou lev ar ds and the f o rt ifications .
This quarter  of  the c it y h a d attha t tim e anyt h ing bu t an envi ab l e
repu t ation.T o  v entu re there at night wa s  considered so  dange ro u st h atthe  soldiersfr om th e  outlyi n gf o r tsw ho came in to  Paris with per missio ntog o to t he th ea t re,  were order ed t o halt at  the b a rriere, and not  to pa ssthr ough th eper il o usd is tri c t e xcepting  i nparti es o f t h reeorfour .

Af ter midnight,  th eseg loo my, n arrow  str ee ts be came t he ha un t of
numerous h omel ess vagab ond s,  an descap e d crim ina lsand mal efactor s ,
m or e o v er , made the quarter  t h e ir  rendezv ous. I f  t he day hadbe ena lu c k y
one , th e ymade mer ry ove r  t he ir spoi ls , andwh ensle ep ov e rtoo k them ,
hid in  door w ays or among t h e rubbish ind es e r te d  hou ses . Every eff orth ad b eenm ad e t o  disl odgeth e se dangerous guests, b ut  the m ost e nergetic
meas ures had f a i l ed to pr oves uc c essful. Watche d, hu nted, andi n
immine nt da nger ofarrest th o u gh theywer e,the y a l w ay s returned wi t h 
idi ot ic obst ina cy, obe yin g,asone  m ight supp ose, som emy st er iou s law of attra ct ion .Hen ce, t h e dist rictwasfo rt hepolicea ni m mens etr ap,con st antly  bai t ed,  and to  which th e g a me c am eof thei r own accordto  be
caught .
Th e resu l t  of a to ur of inspection of thi s  locali tywas s o ce rtain, th atthe of fic e r in c hargeof th epol i c e pos t ca lle dto the squ a d  as  they 
d epar ted: "I  will prepare lodg i ngs  for our gues ts.  Goo d lu ckt oy ouan d 
mu c h  pleasure!"

Th is last wi sh wa s pure iro n y,fo r the w eatherwas t h e mostdisagreea ble
thatco uldb e  im agined. Avery hea vy snow s t orm h a dpreva ile d forse ver al da ys. It was  nowbeginn in g to t haw,an d on all  the frequented
thoroug hfares  theslu sh was an kle - dee p. It was  sti ll cold, h owe ver ; a
d amp chill  fil l ed  th e  air,  and penetrate d  t o t h e  v ery marrowo f one 's
bo nes .  Besid es,there was a dense fog, so densethat o necou l d no tsee
one's hand s b ef o r e one'sfa ce.

"Whata beastl yj ob!"growle d oneof thea g en t s.

"Y es,"  re plied the  in sp e ctor wh oco m manded 
 of_Paris.
Their mission_was to explore the_district extending_on_the one_hand
between_the highroad to_Fontainebleau and the_Seine, and on the_other
between the outer_boulevards_and the fortifications.

This quarter of the city had at that time anything but an_enviable
reputation._To venture_there_at_night was considered so dangerous
that_the soldiers from the outlying_forts who_came in to Paris with
permission to go to_the_theatre, were ordered_to halt at the barriere,
and not to pass through_the perilous district excepting in parties_of
three or four.

After_midnight,_these_gloomy, narrow streets became_the haunt of
numerous homeless vagabonds, and_escaped criminals and malefactors,
moreover, made the_quarter their rendezvous. If the day had_been a lucky
one, they made merry_over their spoils, and when_sleep overtook_them,
hid in doorways or among_the rubbish in_deserted houses._Every effort
had been_made to dislodge these dangerous guests,_but the most_energetic
measures had failed to prove successful._Watched,_hunted, and in
imminent_danger_of_arrest though_they were, they_always_returned with
idiotic_obstinacy,_obeying, as one might suppose, some_mysterious_law
of attraction. Hence, the district was for_the police an immense_trap,
constantly_baited, and to which_the game came of their_own accord to be
caught.

The result of_a tour_of inspection_of this locality was so certain, that
the officer in charge of_the police post called to the_squad as they
departed: "I_will prepare_lodgings_for our guests._Good_luck to_you and
much pleasure!"

This last wish was pure_irony, for_the weather was the most disagreeable
that_could be imagined. A_very_heavy snow storm had prevailed for
several_days. It was now beginning to_thaw, and on all the_frequented
thoroughfares_the_slush was ankle-deep. It was_still cold, however; a
damp chill filled_the air, and_penetrated to the very marrow of one's
bones._Besides,_there was a dense fog, so_dense_that one could not see
one's hands_before_one's_face.

"What a beastly job!" growled_one of the agents.

"Yes," replied the_inspector who commanded