Using my Police training, I was able to come to the conclusion that the Venetian secret agent and Doctor Canalarresty were one and the same person, and that one of them was masquerading as the other, contrary to the law. I had no alternative but to apply the full rigor of the powers at my disposal.

I said to the aforesaid villain that I was arresting him, and began to caution him in the manner laid down in the Police Handbook.

He then said the following words:

“Lucy, blow the lantern out.”

The young female person treacherously did so, plunging the entire Police Station into a state of darkness. Calling to Constable Winkelburg to come to my aid, I leapt fearlessly forward and grappled with the miscreant, receiving several heavy blows but succeeding after a fierce struggle in subduing him and applying the Police Handcuffs, in the manner laid down in the Police Handbook.

I called in an authoritative way for the lamp to be re-lit.

When this was done, I found to my dismay that I had arrested Constable Winkelburg, that he had simultaneously arrested me, and that we were now inextricably linked by means of the aforesaid handcuffs. Doctor Caracapesty then made several observations of an opprobrious and offensive nature.

Having done that, he and his accomplice were about to withdraw with their Cabinet when the door of the Police Station was flung open and there entered a squad of reinforcements from the Geneva Police, under the command of Inspector Hinkelbein.

Inspector Hinkelbein expressed his surprise at finding Constable Winkelburg and myself trussed up in an undignified and unpolicelike manner. I attempted to explain the reasons for it, but he cut me short. This is the first opportunity I have had of clearing my name.

The inspector then arrested Doctor Caravelupsy, accusing him of being Luigi Brilliantini, the well-known confidence trickster. It was clear to me that the inspector had made an error of identification, and I was about to explain it to him when he cut me short.

Constable Winkelburg then drew the inspector’s attention to the fact that the girl had disappeared during the fracas. The inspector expressed his surprise that two grown officers of the Police Force should be beaten by one little girl. I attempted to correct his interpretation of the facts, but he cut me short.

The prisoner was then conveyed to the cells. Constable Winkelburg and myself was released from our handcuffs and severely reprimanded. I then informed Inspector Hinkelbein that he could expect to receive the Order of the Golden Banana, but he mistook my meaning. I tried to explain, but he cut me short.

The prisoner, Doctor Caravanipsky, is at present under guard in the Police Station, awaiting transit to Geneva, there to answer charges of impersonation.

(Signed)

Police Sergeant

[* Drawing now missing.]

Miss Augusta Davenport’s Narrative