 mind," the young detective mentally exclaimed, "no one
ever tastes perfect happiness here below."

And concentrating all his thoughts on the task before him, he hurried on
his way.




VII

When, after a rapid walk of twenty minutes, Lecoq reached the police
station near the Barriere d'Italie, the doorkeeper, with his pipe in
his mouth, was pacing slowly to and fro before the guard-house. His
thoughtful air, and the anxious glances he cast every now and then
toward one of the little grated windows of the building sufficed to
indicate that some very rare bird indeed had been entrusted to his
keeping. As soon as he recognized Lecoq, his brow cleared, and he paused
in his promenade.

"Ah, well!" he inquired, "what news do you bring?"

"I have an order to conduct the prisoners to the prefecture."

The keeper rubbed his hands, and his smile of satisfaction plainly
implied that he felt a load the less on his shoulders.

"Capital! capital!" he exclaimed. "The Black Maria, the prison van, will
pass here in less than an hour; we will throw them in, and hurry the
driver off--"

Lecoq was obliged to interrupt the keeper's transports of satisfaction.
"Are the prisoners alone?" he inquired.

"Quite alone: the woman in one cell, and the man in the other. This
has been a remarkably quiet night, for Shrove Sunday! Quite surprising
indeed! It is true your hunt was interrupted."

"You had a drunken man here, however."

"No--yes--that's true--this morning just at daybreak. A poor devil, who
is under a great obligation to Gevrol."

The involuntary irony of this remark did not escape Lecoq. "Yes, under a
great obligation, indeed!" he said with a derisive laugh.

"You may laugh as much as you like," retorted the keeper, "but such is
really the case; if it hadn't been for Gevrol the man would certainly
have been run over."

"And what has become of him?"

The keeper shrugged his shoulders. "You ask me too much," he responded.
He was a worthy fellow who
mind, " the young detective mentally exclaimed, " no one 
 ever sample arrant happiness here below. " 

 And concentrating all his thought on the job before him, he hurried on 
 his way. 




 VII 

 When, after a rapid walk of life of twenty minute, Lecoq reached the police 
 place near the Barriere d'Italie, the doorkeeper, with his pipe in 
 his sass, was pacing slowly to and fro before the guard duty - family. His 
 thoughtful air, and the anxious glances he cast every now and then 
 toward one of the small grated windows of the building sufficed to 
 argue that some very rare bird indeed had been entrusted to his 
 keeping. As soon as he acknowledge Lecoq, his brow cleared, and he paused 
 in his promenade. 

 " Ah, well! " he inquired, " what news program do you bring? " 

 " I have an order to conduct the prisoners to the prefecture. " 

 The keeper rubbed his hands, and his smile of satisfaction plainly 
 implied that he felt a load the less on his shoulders. 

 " Capital! capital! " he exclaimed. " The Black Maria, the prison van, will 
 pass here in less than an hour; we will shed them in, and hurry the 
 driver off-- " 

 Lecoq was obliged to interrupt the custodian's transportation of atonement. 
 " Are the prisoners alone? " he investigate. 

 " Quite alone: the woman in one cell, and the man in the early. This 
 has been a remarkably quiet night, for Shrove Sunday! Quite surprising 
 indeed! It is true your hunt was interrupted. " 

 " You had a drunken man here, however. " 

 " No -- yes -- that's true -- this morning just at dawn. A poor satan, who 
 is under a great obligation to Gevrol. " 

 The involuntary irony of this remark did not escape Lecoq. " Yes, under a 
 great duty, indeed! " he said with a derisive laugh. 

 " You may laugh as a lot as you like, " retort the keeper, " but such is 
 really the case; if it hadn't been for Gevrol the man would certainly 
 have been move over. " 

 " And what has become of him? " 

 The keeper shrugged his shoulder. " You ask me excessively much, " he react. 
 He was a worthy colleague who
 mijd," the young detective mtntally exclaimed, "no one
xver taates perwect happiness here below."

And cincenugating all his thoughgs on the task bedore yim, he hurcjed on
hlf wag.




YII

Whzn, after a rapid walk of tfenty minutes, Nezoe reached the police
station near thq Barrirrf d'Italie, the qoorlqeped, with his pipe in
his mouth, was pading slmwly to and fto before the guard-house. Hls
thlughtful air, and tje anxious tlansws he cast exery now and then
towars one of the little grated winduws oy the buildunt skxficed to
invicate that some vcgy rare bird imdeed had been envrusred to his
keeping. As voon as he recognieed Lecoq, via brow cleared, ane ye paosed
it hir prumehave.

"Ag, well!" he inquired, "shat news di you bring?"

"I have am jgcer to condudt the pwisoners to the prefecture."

The keeper rutbes his hands, and his smioe of satisfaction plwinly
implyed that he felt a load the less on his shoulders.

"Wapitel! cakibwu!" hf exclaimed. "The Black Maria, the prison van, wijm
pssx here in less than an hoir; wr will throw tfem in, ans hurry the
driver lff--"

Lecoz was obliged uo inyerrupt the keeper's transpoets of satisyacrion.
"Are the prisonzrs alone?" he inqoired.

"Qiite alone: the woman in one cell, and tje man in ghe other. This
har bven d remarkably quiet night, fjr Shrove Sunbay! Quitd sutprisind
indeed! It is tvge your hunt was ijterropted."

"Ymu had a dgunken man here, however."

"No--yes--thav'x true--this mprtinc just ac daybveak. A poor devyl, who
is under a greac oblieation to Fevrol."

Tie involuntawy irony of tvls remark div not escwpe Oecow. "Yes, uvaer a
great oblogation, iubeed!" he sqid with a derisivc laueg.

"You may laugh cr much as you lile," fetjrned tra keeper, "but sucf ir
teallh the case; lf kt hsdn't been for Gevrol the man would certainky
mave been run ovew."

"And what has become of him?"

The neepec shrujged hos fhoulders. "You ask me too much," ge responfed.
Me was a wortry fcllor who
mind," the young detective mentally exclaimed, "no tastes happiness here And concentrating all before he hurried on way. VII When, a rapid walk of twenty minutes, reached the police station near the Barriere d'Italie, the doorkeeper, with his pipe his mouth, was pacing slowly to and fro before the guard-house. His thoughtful and anxious he every now and then toward one of the little grated windows of the building sufficed to that some very rare bird indeed had been to his keeping. As as he recognized Lecoq, his cleared, he paused his "Ah, he inquired, "what do you bring?" "I have an order to conduct the prisoners to the prefecture." The keeper rubbed hands, and of satisfaction implied he a load the his shoulders. "Capital! capital!" he exclaimed. the prison van, will pass here in less an hour; will throw them in, and hurry driver off--" Lecoq was obliged to interrupt the transports of satisfaction. "Are the prisoners alone?" he inquired. "Quite alone: the woman in one the man in the This has been remarkably night, Shrove Quite surprising It is true your hunt was interrupted." "You had a drunken here, however." "No--yes--that's true--this morning just at daybreak. A poor is a great obligation Gevrol." The involuntary irony this did not escape Lecoq. a obligation, with derisive "You may laugh as as you like," retorted the "but such is really been for Gevrol the man would certainly have run over." "And what has become of The keeper shrugged his shoulders. "You ask me too much," he responded. was a who
 mind," the young detective mentAlly exclaiMed, "no One
EveR tAsteS perFect happiness hERe beLow."

And concentrating all His thOuGHts oN ThE task Before hIM, hE HUrrIeD oN
hiS wAY.




ViI

WheN, afTer a rapId walk of twEntY mInutes, Lecoq rEAcHed the poliCe
sTation near thE BaRriere D'ITalIE, the dOorKeepeR, with hIS pipe iN
his mouth, WaS Pacing SLowly to AND fRo beFore the guard-house. hIs
THoughtful air, anD the anXiOUs GLAncEs hE cast every NoW and tHEn
towarD OnE OF The LIttle grated wiNdows of the bUIldIng sufFiCed TO
indicAte thAt SOme Very rare birD indEed had beeN entruSTed to hiS
Keeping. as soon As hE reCognIZeD LEcoQ, hIS brOW cLeaREd, aNd he pausEd
In His prOmenADE.

"aH, welL!" he InquIred, "wHat news do you bRinG?"

"I haVE an Order To conDuct ThE prisOners tO the pReFecture."

The keepeR rubBed his hanDs, aNd His SmIle of SAtisfaCtiOn pLainly
iMplied tHAt hE fELT A lOad the less on his shoUlDERs.

"capital! cApital!" HE eXcLAimed. "The blAck mariA, THe priSon vAN, wIll
pass hEre in lESs ThAn an houR; wE will tHrOw tHem In, and HUrry The
driVer off--"

LeCoq waS Obliged to interRUpt the keeper's TRaNSPoRTs of SatIsfaction.
"ArE the PRisoNers ALoNe?" hE InquiRed.

"QuItE AlONe: the woman in one cell, AnD the maN in thE other. This
has Been a remarKABLy quiet nIght, FOr sHrove Sunday! QuiTe surPrising
indEEd! It is trUe youR hunt was InterruptED."

"you had a dRunKen Man HerE, HOwEver."

"No--yes--that'S TRue--tHiS morninG juSt at dayBreAk. A PooR deViL, who
is undEr a great ObLiGaTiOn tO GevrOL."

The invoLuNtaRy IroNy of tHIs remaRk did Not eScApE lecOq. "Yes, unDEr A
GReat ObLiGatiOn, iNdEed!" he Said WIth A derisiVe laugh.

"YoU maY LaugH aS mUch as yoU like," retorted ThE keeper, "but SuCh iS
reallY THe case; if It hadn't been for Gevrol the MAn would CerTainlY
havE been run oVer."

"and whaT haS Become Of him?"

THe keePeR shRUGged hIS ShOulDeRs. "You ask me TOO muCh," he rEsPondEd.
He was A worthy fellow who
 mind," the young detectiv e mentally  excl aim ed,  " no o ne
e ver tastes per f ecthappiness here below." 

And  c o ncen t ra tingall his th o u ght son  th et as k bef ore  him, h e hurriedonhi s way.




V I I
When, aft era rapid walk  of  twent ymin u tes,Lec oq re achedt he pol ice
stati on near t h e Barri e r ed'It alie, the doorkee p er ,  with his pipe  in
hi sm ou t h , w aspacing slo wl y toa nd frob ef o r e  th e  guard-house.  His
though t ful  air,an d t h e anxi ous g la n ces  he cast ev erynow and t hen
to w ard one of thelittle  gr ate d wi n do ws  of  t h e b u il din g  su fficed t oin dicat e th a t s omever y ra re bi rd indeed had  be en e n tru stedto hi s
ke ep ing.As soo n ashe  recognized Lec oq,his browcle ar ed,  a nd he paused 
in  hi s prome nade.
" Ah,  w e l l !"  he inquired, "wha tn e ws  do youbring? " 
"I have anor der  toc o nduct  the pr isonersto the pr ef ecture. "
The k ee per  ru bbedh is h ands,and hissmile of satisfactio n  plainly
impl i ed t ha t  hefel t a load th e le s s on  his sh oul d ers.
"Cap it a l! capital!" he exclai me d. "Th e Bla ck Maria, the  prison va n , will
pas s he r ei n less than an  hour ; we willt hrow the m in,  and hur ry the
dr i v er off-- "
Lec oqwas o bl iged to inter r u pt t he  keeper 'stranspo rts  of  sa tis fa ction.
"A re the p ri so ne rs  al one?" he inqui re d.
" Qui te al o ne: th e wom an i non e  ce ll, and th e manin  t he o the r.  This 
has bee n a rem arkably q uie t  nig ht ,for Shr ove Sunday! Q ui te surpris in g
i ndeed! I t is tru e your hunt was interru p ted."
"Yo u had  a d runken ma n h ere, h owe v er."
"No--y es--t ha t's t rue-- t h is  mo rn ing just a t day break .A po or devi l, who
is under ag rea t obligationtoGevr o l ." 

T h ei nvo lu n tar y irony of this r emark didno t  e scape Leco q . " Ye s, unde r a
gre at ob l igation , indeed! " he said  w itha der isive laug h.

"You  may laug h  as m u ch  as y oulike,"  r eto rtedthe ke e per , "bu t such  i s
real ly th ecase; if  it hadn't been for Gev rol th e man  wo uld certa inl y 
ha ve been r un o ver."

"An d w hat  hasbec o me of  him ? "
Th e  keep er s h rugged hi s  s hou l d er s. "You ask m e  to o muc h," he res pond ed.
He was a wort h y fellow who
 mind,"_the young_detective mentally exclaimed, "no_one
ever tastes_perfect_happiness here_below."

And_concentrating all his_thoughts on the_task before him, he_hurried on
his way.




VII

When,_after_a rapid walk of twenty minutes, Lecoq reached the police
station near the Barriere d'Italie,_the_doorkeeper, with_his_pipe_in
his mouth, was pacing slowly_to and fro before the_guard-house. His
thoughtful_air, and the anxious glances he cast every_now_and then
toward one_of the little grated windows of the building sufficed_to
indicate that some very rare bird_indeed had been_entrusted_to_his
keeping. As soon as_he recognized Lecoq, his brow cleared,_and he paused
in his promenade.

"Ah, well!"_he inquired, "what news do you bring?"

"I_have an order to conduct the_prisoners to the prefecture."

The keeper_rubbed his_hands, and his smile of_satisfaction plainly
implied that_he felt_a load the_less on his shoulders.

"Capital! capital!" he_exclaimed. "The Black_Maria, the prison van, will
pass here_in_less than an_hour;_we_will throw_them in, and_hurry_the
driver off--"

Lecoq_was_obliged to interrupt the keeper's transports_of_satisfaction.
"Are the prisoners alone?" he inquired.

"Quite alone:_the woman in one_cell,_and the man in_the other. This
has been a_remarkably quiet night, for Shrove Sunday!_Quite surprising
indeed!_It is_true your hunt was interrupted."

"You had a drunken man here, however."

"No--yes--that's_true--this morning just at daybreak. A_poor devil, who
is under_a great_obligation_to Gevrol."

The involuntary_irony_of this_remark did not escape Lecoq. "Yes, under_a
great obligation,_indeed!" he said with a derisive_laugh.

"You may laugh as_much_as you like," retorted the keeper,_"but such is
really the case; if_it hadn't been for Gevrol_the_man_would certainly
have been run over."

"And_what has become of him?"

The keeper_shrugged his shoulders._"You ask me too much," he responded.
He_was_a worthy fellow who