The law is obeyed as it never was before. The prisons
were crowded to suffocation at one time; now they are almost empty.
It is a good law. To-day a mother can wheel her baby carriage in the
thickest of the traffic and run no risk of--Ah, but here is the
assistant prosecutor coming. Permit me to further warn you that you
will be placed under oath to tell the absolute truth. The prosecutor
will ask but three questions of you: your age, your name and your
place of residence. All of them you must answer truthfully,
especially as to your names. If it is discovered that you have
falsely given a name not your own, the lowest penalty is sixty days
in prison, imposed afterwards in addition to the sentence you will
receive for violating the traffic laws. I have performed my duty as
required by the commissioner. My fee is a fixed one, so you need not
put your hand into your pocket, M'sieur. Good day. Mademoiselle--good
day, M'sieur." He bowed profoundly and gave way to the impatient
prosecutor, who had considerately held himself aloof while the final
words were being uttered, albeit he glanced at his watch a couple of
times.
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