Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/550

 however, without any other formality than a short interrogatory which established his identity.

Régère, a member of the Commune, whose name is well known from the decree of the Commune already mentioned, "The Citizen Raoul Rigault is charged, together with the Citizen Régère, with the execution of the decree of the Commune of Paris relative to the hostages," was also arrested in Paris, but not until nearly the end of the month of June.

For about eight days before his arrest he had been living in the Hotel des Italiens. His arrival at the hotel was preceded by that of two young men, serving doubtless as scouts, who gave out that they were nephews of an old man of sixty, who was about to rejoin them.

The venerable uncle arrived in time, but it was remarked that his hair and beard, cut very short, were of reddish tinge. This, however, was supposed to be the result of vanity on the part of the old man—nothing more. The day after his arrival he caused his whole body to be covered with plasters, and took to his bed, where he remained most obstinately.

M. Régère had inscribed himself in the book of the hotel as M. Teuquien, a singular name, somewhat Chinese, and hardly calculated to divert suspicion; however, he might have remained for a long time undisturbed, had it not been for the intervention of a lady, very nicely dressed, who had undertaken to furnish passports to several persons compromised in the insurrection. She had already procured several papers of this kind at the Prefecture, in virtue of what title it is not yet known, when the snare was discovered.

From that moment the lady was furnished, in the kindest manner, with all the passports which she came to demand, only—two zealous agents of the police were, at the same time, attached to her person.