THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF 'TOM' 153 



this moment, and seeing this act of open rebellion ordered 

 the corporal and his nine men to come down into the 

 garden, whilst he himself stood on the top step to give 

 orders. 



Tom, interested in watching all those ceremonies, let 

 his antagonist escape, and remained standing upright 

 and immovable against the wall. Then began the 

 inquiry. Tom was accused of introducing himself 

 forcibly and by night into an inhabited house, and, further, 

 of having attempted to murder a public functionary. Not 

 being able to produce any witness to the contrary he was 

 condemned to death, and the corporal was desired to 

 proceed to immediate execution, and ordered his men to 

 load their guns. 



Then, amidst a profound silence throughout the crowd 

 which had followed the soldiers into the garden, the 

 corporal's voice alone was heard. He made his men go 

 through the full number of evolutions, but when he came 

 to the word ' present ' he turned and looked towards the 

 Commissioner of Police. 



A murmur of pity ran through the crowd, but the 

 Commissioner had been disturbed in the middle of his 

 breakfast, and was inexorable. He stretched out his 

 hand. 



' Fi— — ' began the corporal ; but before the word was 

 out of his mouth or the bullets out of the guns, a man 

 hastily rushed through the crowd with a paper in his 

 hand. 



It was Alexandre Decamps with an order from 

 Monsieur Cuvier for Tom's admission to the Zoological 

 Gardens, under the special care of one of the most 

 eminent keepers. 



It came only just in time; but Tom was safe, and 

 Alexandre led him off, amidst enthusiastic applause, to 

 spend his remaining years in dignified retirement. 



