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bailiff has no force beyond the limits of his jurisdiction； and there
are other obstacles rendering it almost invalid。 Wherefore the Paris
bailiff is empowered to enter the house of a third party to seize the
person of the debtor； while for the bailiff of the provinces the
domicile is absolutely inviolable。 The law probably makes this
exception as to Paris； because there it is the rule for two or more
families to live under the same roof； but in the provinces the bailiff
who wishes to make forcible entry must have an order from the Justice
of the Peace； and so wide a discretion is allowed the Justice of the
Peace； that he is practically able to give or withhold assistance to
the bailiffs。 To the honor of the Justices； it should be said； that
they dislike the office； and are by no means anxious to assist blind
passions or revenge。
There are； besides； other and no less serious difficulties in the way
of arrest for debtdifficulties which tend to temper the severity of
legislation； and public opinion not infrequently makes a dead letter
of the law。 In great cities there are poor or degraded wretches
enough； poverty and vice know no scruples； and consent to play the
spy； but in a little country town； people know each other too well to
earn wages of the bailiff； the meanest creature who should lend
himself to dirty work of this kind would be forced to leave the place。
In the absence of recognized machinery； therefore； the arrest of a
debtor is a problem presenting no small difficulty； it becomes a kind
of strife of ingenuity between the bailiff and the debtor； and matter
for many pleasant stories in the newspapers。
Cointet the elder did not choose to appear in the affair； but the fat
Cointet openly said that he was acting for Metivier； and went to
Doublon； taking Cerizet with him。 Cerizet was his foreman now； and had
promised his co…operation in return for a thousand…franc note。 Doublon
could reckon upon two of his understrappers； and thus the Cointets had
four bloodhounds already on the victim's track。 At the actual time of
arrest； Doublon could furthermore count upon the police force； who are
bound； if required； to assist a bailiff in the performance of his
duty。 The two men； Doublon himself； and the visitors were all closeted
together in the private office； beyond the public office； on the
ground floor。
A tolerably wide…paved lobby； a kind of passage…way； led to the public
office。 The gilded scutcheons of the court； with the word 〃Bailiff〃
printed thereon in large black letters； hung outside on the house wall
on either side the door。 Both office windows gave upon the street； and
were protected by heavy iron bars； but the private office looked into
the garden at the back； wherein Doublon； an adorer of Pomona； grew
espaliers with marked success。 Opposite the office door you beheld the
door of the kitchen； and； beyond the kitchen； the staircase that
ascended to the first story。 The house was situated in a narrow street
at the back of the new Law Courts； then in process of construction；
and only finished after 1830。These details are necessary if Kolb's
adventures are to be intelligible to the reader。
It was Kolb's idea to go to the bailiff； to pretend to be willing to
betray his master； and in this way to discover the traps which would
be laid for David。 Kolb told the servant who opened the door that he
wanted to speak to M。 Doublon on business。 The servant was busy
washing up her plates and dishes； and not very well pleased at Kolb's
interruption； she pushed open the door of the outer office； and bade
him wait there till her master was at liberty； then； as he was a
stranger to her； she told the master in the private office that 〃a
man〃 wanted to speak to him。 Now； 〃a man〃 so invariably means 〃a
peasant；〃 that Doublon said； 〃Tell him to wait；〃 and Kolb took a seat
close to the door of the private office。 There were voices talking
within。
〃Ah； by the by； how do you mean to set about it？ For； if we can catch
him to…morrow； it will be so much time saved。〃 It was the fat Cointet
who spoke。
〃Nothing easier； the gaffer has come fairly by his nickname；〃 said
Cerizet。
At the sound of the fat Cointet's voice； Kolb guessed at once that
they were talking about his master； especially as the sense of the
words began to dawn upon him； but； when he recognized Cerizet's tones；
his astonishment grew more and more。
〃Und dat fellow haf eaten his pread！〃 he thought； horror…stricken。
〃We must do it in this way； boys；〃 said Doublon。 〃We will post our
men； at good long intervals； about the Rue de Beaulieu and the Place
du Murier in every direction； so that we can follow the gaffer （I like
that word） without his knowledge。 We will not lose sight of him until
he is safe inside the house where he means to lie in hiding （as he
thinks）； there we will leave him in peace for awhile； then some fine
day we will come across him before sunrise or sunset。〃
〃But what is he doing now； at this moment？ He may be slipping through
our fingers；〃 said the fat Cointet。
〃He is in his house；〃 answered Doublon； 〃if he left it； I should know。
I have one witness posted in the Place du Murier； another at the
corner of the Law Courts； and another thirty paces from the house。 If
our man came out； they would whistle； he could not make three paces
from his door but I should know of it at once from the signal。〃
（Bailiffs speak of their understrappers by the polite title of
〃witnesses。〃）
Here was better hap than Kolb had expected！ He went noiselessly out of
the office； and spoke to the maid in the kitchen。
〃Meestair Touplon ees encaged for som time to kom；〃 he said； 〃I vill
kom back early to…morrow morning。〃
A sudden idea had struck the Alsacien； and he proceeded to put it into
execution。 Kolb had served in a cavalry regiment； he hurried off to
see a livery stable…keeper； an acquaintance of his； picked out a
horse； had it saddled； and rushed back to the Place du Murier。 He
found Madame Eve in the lowest depths of despondency。
〃What is it； Kolb？〃 asked David； when the Alsacien's face looked in
upon them； scared but radiant。
〃You have scountrels all arount you。 De safest way ees to hide de
master。 Haf montame thought of hiding the master anywheres？〃
When Kolb； honest fellow； had explained the whole history of Cerizet's
treachery； of the circle traced about the house； and of the fat
Cointet's interest in the affair； and given the family some inkling of
the schemes set on foot by the Cointets against the master；then
David's real position gradually became fatally clear。
〃It is the Cointet's doing！〃 cried poor Eve； aghast at the news； 〃THEY
are proceeding against you！ that accounts for Metivier's
hardness。 。 。 。 They are paper…makersDavid！ they want your secret！〃
〃But what can we do to escape them？〃 exclaimed Mme。 Chardon。
〃If de misdress had some liddle blace vere the master could pe
hidden；〃 said Kolb； 〃I bromise to take him dere so dot nopody shall
know。〃
〃Wait till nightfall； and go to Basine Clerget；〃 said Eve。 〃I will go
now and arrange it all with her。 In this case； Basine will be like
another self to me。〃
〃Spies will follow you；〃 Dav