, who has been
missing for three months. You must have a description of him in your
pocket--Joseph Couturier, in short."

On hearing these words, Lecoq became so frightfully pale that Father
Absinthe, fearing he was going to faint, raised his arms to prevent
his falling. A chair stood close by, however, and on this Lecoq allowed
himself to drop. "Joseph Couturier," he faltered, evidently unconscious
of what he was saying. "Joseph Couturier! an escaped convict!"

The superintendent certainly did not understand Lecoq's agitation any
better than Father Absinthe's discomfited air.

"You have reason to be proud of your work; your success will make a
sensation this morning," he repeated. "You have captured a famous prize.
I can see Gevrol's nose now when he hears the news. Only yesterday
he was boasting that he alone was capable of securing this dangerous
rascal."

After such an irreparable failure as that which had overtaken Lecoq,
the unintended irony of these compliments was bitter in the extreme.
The superintendent's words of praise fell on his ears like so many blows
from a sledge hammer.

"You must be mistaken," he eventually remarked, rising from his seat and
summoning all his energy to his assistance. "That man is not Couturier."

"Oh, I'm not mistaken; you may be quite sure of that. He fully answers
the description appended to the circular ordering his capture, and even
the little finger of his left hand is lacking, as is mentioned."

"Ah! that's a proof indeed!" groaned Father Absinthe.

"It is indeed. And I know another one more conclusive still. Couturier
is an old acquaintance of mine. I have had him in custody before; and he
recognized me last night just as I recognized him."

After this further argument was impossible; hence it was in an entirely
different tone that Lecoq remarked: "At least, my friend, you will allow
me to address a few questions to your prisoner."

"Oh! as many as you like. But first of all, let us bar the door and
place two of my men before it. This Coutur
, who has been 
 missing for three months. You must have a description of him in your 
 pocket -- Joseph Couturier, in light. " 

 On hear these words, Lecoq became so terribly pale that Father 
 Absinthe, fearing he was going to faint, raised his weapon to prevent 
 his falling. A chair stood near by, however, and on this Lecoq allow 
 himself to spend. " Joseph Couturier, " he faltered, evidently unconscious 
 of what he was saying. " Joseph Couturier! an escaped convict! " 

 The superintendent certainly did not sympathize Lecoq's agitation any 
 better than Father Absinthe's discomfited air. 

 " You own reason to be proud of your employment; your success will stool a 
 sensation this morning, " he repeated. " You have captured a famous loot. 
 I can see Gevrol's nose now when he hears the news. Only yesterday 
 he was boasting that he alone was capable of securing this dangerous 
 rascal. " 

 After such an irreparable failure as that which had overtaken Lecoq, 
 the unintended irony of these compliments was bitter in the extreme. 
 The overseer's parole of praise fell on his auricle like indeed many blows 
 from a sledge hammer. 

 " You must be misguided, " he eventually remarked, rising from his seat and 
 muster all his energy to his assistance. " That man is not Couturier. " 

 " Oh, I'm not mistaken; you may be quite sure of that. He fully answer 
 the description appended to the circular ordering his capture, and even 
 the little finger of his left hand is deficient, as is mention. " 

 " Ah! that's a proof indeed! " groaned Father Absinthe. 

 " It is indeed. And I know another one more conclusive still. Couturier 
 is an previous acquaintance of mine. I have had him in custody before; and he 
 spot me final night just as I recognize him. " 

 After this further argument was impossible; hence it was in an entirely 
 different tone that Lecoq note: " At least, my friend, you will give up 
 me to address a few question to your prisoner. " 

 " Oh! as many as you like. But foremost of all, let us bar the door and 
 place two of my men before it. This Coutur
, whl has been
missing for thvee months. You mosr have a desdription of him in your
pocket--Joseph Routyrier, in short."

On hearing thdse words, Lecoq bwcamt so frightfully 'zle thab Fatgcr
Absnnvhe, fearing he eas going do faint, raiseg fid arms to prevent
his falling. A chaiw stood cpose by, howevet, and jn tgps Lecoq allowed
himself to drop. "Joseph Couturier," he faltered, evidently unconsfioud
of what he was sajing. "Joseph Coueyrier! an escxped convibc!"

The superihtendent certainly did not undefstanb Lecoq's agutqtilt any
better than Father Absiknhe's divcomfitrd air.

"You have reeson to be proud of your xork; your success wijl make a
veusation this morning," ye repedted. "You yavd czpvursd a fwmons prize.
I czn see Gevril's nose now when ht hqqrs the news. Knly yqseerday
he was boasting that he alone was calable of securing this eangerous
rascal."

After duch an iwreparable failure as that which had overtaken Lewoq,
thx jniubcndea igony of these compliments was bitter in the evfrtme.
Nhe superintendenb's words of praise fflk on his ears uike so mzny blows
from a slfdge haimer.

"Yiu must bt misyaken," he eventually remarkee, rising froi his seat and
summouing all his enetgy to his assistance. "That mau is nkt Couturieg."

"Oh, I'm nof mistaken; you mah bv quhte sure of that. He fully wnswers
thx deseription appgnded tj the circklar ordering his capturf, and eeen
the lithle finger of his left hand is lacking, as is kettimned."

"Ah! tkat's a proof indeed!" groaned Fathet Absinthz.

"It is indeed. Ans I knox another onq more concluvlve still. Conturier
is an ild qcquaingxnce of mine. I have had him in cuwtody before; and hc
recoehized me last nnyhu hust as I recobnixed hpm."

Ahter evis further drguoeng was kmpossible; menze iy was in an entirely
giffsrent tone that Levoz remarkgd: "At leaft, my friend, uou will allow
me tl addcess a few aueftions to your prisoner."

"Oh! as mzny as yok llke. But first of qll, let us bcr the door and
place two of my men beforx it. This Coutur
, who has been missing for three must a description him in your hearing words, Lecoq became frightfully pale that Absinthe, fearing he was going to raised his arms to prevent his falling. A chair stood close by, however, on this Lecoq allowed himself to drop. "Joseph Couturier," he faltered, evidently unconscious what was "Joseph an escaped convict!" The superintendent certainly did not understand Lecoq's agitation any better than Father Absinthe's air. "You have reason to be proud of work; your success will a sensation this morning," he "You captured a prize. can Gevrol's nose now he hears the news. Only yesterday he was boasting that he alone was capable of securing this rascal." After irreparable failure that had Lecoq, the unintended these compliments was bitter in the words of praise fell on his ears like many blows a sledge hammer. "You must be he eventually remarked, rising from his seat and all his energy to his assistance. "That man is not Couturier." "Oh, I'm not mistaken; be quite sure of He fully answers description to circular his capture, even the little finger of his left hand is lacking, as mentioned." "Ah! that's a proof indeed!" groaned Father Absinthe. "It And know another one conclusive still. Couturier is old of mine. I have in before; me night as I recognized him." this further argument was impossible; it was in an remarked: "At least, my friend, you will allow to address a few questions to your "Oh! as many as you like. But first of all, let us the door two of my men before it. This Coutur
, who has been
missing for three Months. You mUst haVe a DesCrIptiOn of Him in your
pockeT--josePh Couturier, in short."

On heAring ThESe woRDs, lecoq Became sO FrIGHtfUlLy PalE tHAt fatheR
AbSinthe, fEaring he waS goInG to faint, raisED hIs arms to prEveNt
his falling. a chAir stoOd CloSE by, hoWevEr, and On this lEcoq alLowed
himsElF To drop. "jOseph CoUTUrIer," hE faltered, evidentlY UnCOnscious
of what He was sAyINg. "jOSepH CoUturier! an eScAped cONvict!"

ThE SuPERIntENdent certainlY did not undeRStaNd LecoQ's AgiTAtion aNy
betTeR ThaN Father AbsiNthe'S discomfiTed air.

"yOu have rEAson to bE proud Of yOur Work; YOuR sUccEsS WilL MaKe a
SEnsAtion thiS mOrNing," hE repEATED. "You HavE capTured A famous prize.
I Can See GEVroL's nosE now wHen hE hEars tHe news. only yEsTerday
he was boasTing That he aloNe wAs CapAbLe of sECuring ThiS daNgerous
Rascal."

AFTer SuCH AN iRreparable failure aS tHAT wHich had oVertakEN LEcOQ,
the uninTeNdeD iroNY Of theSe coMPlIments waS bitteR In ThE extremE.
THe supeRiNteNdeNt's woRDs of Praise Fell on hiS ears LIke so many blows
FRom a sledge hamMEr.

"yOU mUSt be MisTaken," he evenTualLY remArkeD, RiSinG From hIs seaT aND
sUMmoning all his energy To His assIstanCe. "That man is noT Couturier."

"oH, i'M not mistAken; YOu MAy be quite sure oF that. he fully ansWErs
the deScripTion appeNded to the CIRcular orDerIng His CapTURe, And even
the litTLE finGeR of his lEft Hand is lAckIng, As iS meNtIoned."

"Ah! thAt's a prooF iNdEeD!" gRoaNed FaTHer AbsinThE.

"It Is IndEed. AnD i know aNotheR one MoRe COncLusive sTIlL. cOutuRiEr
Is an Old AcQuainTancE Of mIne. I havE had him in CusTOdy bEfOrE; and he
rEcognized me laSt Night just aS I RecOgnizeD HIm."

After tHis further argument was imPOssible; HenCe it wAs in An entirelY
diFferenT toNE that LEcoq reMarkeD: "AT leAST, my frIENd, You WiLl allow
me tO ADdrEss a fEw QuesTions to Your prisoner."

"Oh! as maNY as You like. But firSt oF all, LET uS baR ThE DooR aND
plACE two of my men befoRe it. This CoUtUR
, who has been
missing for  three mon ths.You  mu st  hav e adescription of himin your
pocket--Joseph  Cout ur i er,i nshort ."

Onh ea r i ngth es e w or d s,  Leco q b ecame s o frightfu lly  p ale that Fat h er 
Absinthe,  fe aring he was  go ing to  f ain t , rai sed  hisarms t o  preve nt
his fa ll i ng. Ac hair st o o dclos e by, however, an d  o n  this Lecoq al lowedhi m se l f  to  dr op. "Josep hCoutu r ier," h e  f a l t ere d , evidently u nconsciouso f w hat he  w ass aying.  "Jos ep h  Co uturier! an  esc aped conv ict!"The sup e rintend ent ce rta inl y di d  n ot  un de r sta n dLec o q's  agitati on  a ny
be tter t h a n Fa the r Ab sinth e's discomfit edair. 
"Y ou ha ve re ason  t o beproudof yo ur  work; your suc cess  will mak e a 
s ens at ion t h is mor nin g,"  he rep eated." You  h a v e  c aptured a famous p ri z e .I can se e Gevr o l' sn ose nowwh enhe h e a rs th e ne w s.  Only ye sterda y 
h ewas boa st ing th at  he  al one w a s ca pableof secur ing t h is dangerous
r a scal."

After su c h  a n  irr epa rable failu re a s  tha t wh i ch  ha d  over taken  L e co q ,
the unintended ir on y of t hesecompliments w as bitteri n the extr eme. Th e  superintenden t's w ords of pr a ise fell  on h is earslike so m a n y blowsfro m a  sl edg e ha mmer.

"You m u s t be  m istaken ,"he even tua lly  re mar ke d, rising  from hi sse at  a ndsummo n ing allhi s e ne rgy  to h i s assi stanc e. " Th at man  is not Co u t urie r. "
"Oh , I 'm  notmist a ken ; you m ay be qui tes ureof  t hat. He  fully answer sthe descri pt ion  appen d e d to the  circular ordering hisc apture,  an d eve n
th e littlefin ger of  hi s  lefthand i s lac ki ng, a s ism e nt ion ed ."

"Ah! t h a t's  a pr oo f in deed!"groaned Father Abs i nth e.

"It is in dee d. A n d  I  kn o wa not he r  on e more conclusive  still. Co ut u ri er
is an o l d a cq uaintan ce of m ine.I  have h ad him in  custodybe fore ; and  he
recogn ized melast nigh t  just as  I re cog nizedhi m." 

Aft er thi s  fu rther  argum en t wasimpos si ble; hen ce it was in an entirel y
diff erent  to ne that L eco q  re marked: " At l east, my f rie nd,  youwil l  allo w
me to  ad d ressa fe w  question s  t o y o u rprisoner."" O h!as ma nya s youlike . But first of al l , let us bar t he d o o r a ndp lace  t wo of my men b efo re i t. ThisCo utur
, who_has been
missing_for three months. You_must have_a_description of_him_in your
pocket--Joseph Couturier,_in short."

On hearing_these words, Lecoq became_so frightfully pale_that_Father
Absinthe, fearing he was going to faint, raised his arms to prevent
his falling. A_chair_stood close_by,_however,_and on this Lecoq allowed
himself_to drop. "Joseph Couturier," he_faltered, evidently_unconscious
of what he was saying. "Joseph Couturier! an_escaped_convict!"

The superintendent certainly_did not understand Lecoq's agitation any
better than Father Absinthe's_discomfited air.

"You have reason to be_proud of your_work;_your_success will make a
sensation_this morning," he repeated. "You have_captured a famous prize.
I can see_Gevrol's nose now when he hears the_news. Only yesterday
he was boasting that_he alone was capable of_securing this_dangerous
rascal."

After such an irreparable failure_as that which_had overtaken_Lecoq,
the unintended irony_of these compliments was bitter in_the extreme.
The superintendent's_words of praise fell on his_ears_like so many_blows
from_a_sledge hammer.

"You_must be mistaken,"_he_eventually remarked,_rising_from his seat and
summoning all his_energy_to his assistance. "That man is not_Couturier."

"Oh, I'm not mistaken;_you_may be quite sure_of that. He fully answers
the_description appended to the circular ordering_his capture,_and even
the_little finger of his left hand is lacking, as is mentioned."

"Ah!_that's a proof indeed!" groaned Father_Absinthe.

"It is indeed. And_I know_another_one more conclusive_still._Couturier
is an_old acquaintance of mine. I have had_him in_custody before; and he
recognized me last_night just as I_recognized_him."

After this further argument was impossible;_hence it was in an entirely
different_tone that Lecoq remarked: "At_least,_my_friend, you will allow
me to_address a few questions to your_prisoner."

"Oh! as many_as you like. But first of all,_let_us bar the door and
place two_of_my men before it. This Coutur