 attired as when he
entered it. Luck had for once been in the young detective's favor.

May actually staggered when he stepped out on the pavement. His bitter
disappointment could be read in his countenance, which disclosed the
anguish of a drowning man who sees the frail plank which was his only
hope of salvation snatched from his grasp by the ruthless waves.

What could have taken place? This Lecoq must know without a moment's
delay. He gave a peculiar whistle, to warn his companion that he
momentarily abandoned the pursuit of him; and having received a similar
signal in response, he entered the shop. The owner was still standing
behind the counter. Lecoq wasted no time in parleying. He merely showed
his card to acquaint the man with his profession, and curtly asked:
"What did the fellow want who was just in here?"

The shopkeeper seemed embarrassed. "It's a long story," he stammered.

"Then tell it!" said Lecoq, surprised at the man's hesitation.

"Oh, it's very simple. About twelve days ago a man entered my shop with
a bundle under his arm. He claimed to be a countryman of mine."

"Are you an Alsatian?"

"Yes, sir. Well, I went with this man to the wine-shop at the corner,
where he ordered a bottle of good wine; and while we drank together, he
asked me if I would consent to keep the package he had with him until
one of his cousins came to claim it. To prevent any mistake, this cousin
was to say certain words--a countersign, as it were. I refused, shortly
and decidedly, for the very month before I had got into trouble and had
been charged with receiving stolen goods, all by obliging a person in
this way. Well, you never saw a man so vexed and so surprised. What made
me all the more determined in my refusal was that he offered me a good
round sum in payment for my trouble. This only increased my suspicion,
and I persisted in my refusal."

The shopkeeper paused to take breath; but Lecoq was on fire with
impatience. "And what then?" he insisted.

"Well, he paid for the wine and went away. I had forgotten
attired as when he 
 entered it. Luck had for once been in the young detective's favor. 

 May actually stagger when he step out on the pavement. His biting 
 disappointment could be learn in his countenance, which disclosed the 
 anguish of a drown world who sees the frail board which was his lone 
 hope of redemption snatched from his grasp by the ruthless waves. 

 What could have lead place? This Lecoq must know without a moment's 
 delay. He contribute a peculiar whistle, to warn his companion that he 
 momentarily abandoned the pastime of him; and having received a similar 
 signal in response, he entered the workshop. The owner was still standing 
 behind the counter. Lecoq wasted no time in parleying. He merely prove 
 his card to acquaint the man with his profession, and curtly asked: 
 " What did the fellow desire who was merely in here? " 

 The shopkeeper seemed embarrassed. " It's a long story, " he stammered. 

 " Then tell it! " said Lecoq, surprised at the man's hesitation. 

 " Oh, it's very elementary. About twelve days ago a world enroll my shop with 
 a bundle under his arm. He claim to be a countryman of mine. " 

 " Are you an Alsatian? " 

 " Yes, sir. Well, I run with this man to the wine - shop at the recess, 
 where he ordered a bottle of good wine; and while we drank together, he 
 asked me if I would consent to keep the package he had with him until 
 one of his cousins came to claim it. To prevent any mistake, this cousin 
 was to allege sealed word -- a countersign, as it were. I refused, shortly 
 and decidedly, for the identical month before I had got into trouble and had 
 been charged with receiving stolen goods, all by obliging a person in 
 this room. Well, you never saw a homo so vexed and thus surprised. What made 
 me all the more compulsive in my refusal was that he offered me a good 
 round sum in requital for my trouble. This only increased my misgiving, 
 and I persisted in my refusal. " 

 The shopkeeper pause to take breath; but Lecoq was on fire with 
 impatience. " And what then? " he insisted. 

 " Well, he paid for the wine and went away. I had forgotten
 athired as when he
entered lt. Luck had for once bexn in tge young detective's favor.

May actuallb stqggertb when he stepped oug on the iavement. Yis uitter
disappointment could be dcad iu iis countenance, which diswlosed the
anguhsf lf a drowning man who sees the fraij plank wjich was his ogly
hp[e or salvation snatched from his grasl by tht ruthless waves.

Whst could have taken place? Hhis Lecoq must know wlthout a monent'f
eelay. He gavd a peculiar whistle, tk warn his companion that he
momdntarnly abandongb thf pursuit of him; wnd having rcbeived d similsr
signal in rexpoise, ye entered the shop. Tie owner was still sjanding
behhnb the counter. Lecoq wqsred nm tike iv paflegiig. Ge merfly showed
his card to acwuaint the man with hyw profession, znd cuwtjy asked:
"What did the fellow want who wav jhst in here?"

The shopkeepwr seemed embarrassed. "It's a logg story," he stammered.

"Then tell it!" said Lecoq, surpsised xt uhc oqn'd hesitation.

"Oh, it's very simple. About twelve dwgs ano a man entered my shop wiyh
w nondle under hir arm. Ks dlaimed to be a cokntrymag of nine."

"Are yju am Alsatian?"

"Yes, sir. Well, I webt with this nan to the wine-sho' at the coruer,
whete he prdered a bottle of goob wine; and while ae drank fugether, he
asked oe pf I would consent to keep the package ie hab with hkm umtil
onq of his clusins came to claim it. Ho prgvent dny mistakf, this cousin
was to say certain words--a countetsicn, ds it wexe. I rcfused, shortly
agd decidedly, fpr the rery munth beforv I had gmt into trotble and had
bagn charged wivh receivyng wtolwn goodr, all by obligimg a person in
this qay. Well, you never sad a man so vexed ane so surprised. Ehag mwdv
me ajn the more dateroindc in oy refusal car thst he offered me a gmod
rkund sum in paymeny nor my triuble. Thys only incressed my suspicion,
ajd I 'ersisved in my refusal."

The shopkeeper paused fo take bgeabh; but Lecoq ras in fire with
nmpatience. "And what then?" he insisted.

"Well, he paid for the wune and went away. I mad forgottei
attired as when he entered it. Luck once in the detective's favor. May out the pavement. His disappointment could be in his countenance, which disclosed the of a drowning man who sees the frail plank which was his only of salvation snatched from his grasp by the ruthless waves. What could have place? Lecoq know a moment's delay. He gave a peculiar whistle, to warn his companion that he momentarily abandoned pursuit of him; and having received a similar in response, he entered shop. The owner was still behind counter. Lecoq no in He merely showed card to acquaint the man with his profession, and curtly asked: "What did the fellow want who just in shopkeeper seemed "It's long he stammered. "Then said Lecoq, surprised at the man's very simple. About twelve days ago a man my shop a bundle under his arm. He to be a countryman of mine." "Are you Alsatian?" "Yes, sir. Well, I went with this man to the wine-shop at the corner, ordered a bottle of wine; and while drank he me I would to keep the package he had with him until one of cousins came to claim it. To prevent any mistake, this to certain words--a countersign, it were. I refused, and for the very month had into been with stolen goods, all by a person in this way. you never saw a surprised. What made me all the more determined my refusal was that he offered me good round sum in payment for my trouble. This only increased my and I my refusal." The shopkeeper paused to take breath; Lecoq was on fire impatience. "And what then?" he insisted. "Well, he paid the and went I had forgotten
 attired as when he
entered it. LUck had for oNce beEn iN thE yOung DeteCtive's favor.

May ACtuaLly staggered when he stepPed ouT oN The pAVeMent. HIs bitteR
DiSAPpoInTmEnt CoULd Be reaD in His counTenance, whiCh dIsClosed the
angUIsH of a drowniNg mAn who sees the FraIl planK wHicH Was hiS onLy
hopE of salVAtion sNatched frOm HIs grasP By the ruTHLeSs waVes.

What could have tAKeN Place? This Lecoq Must knOw WItHOUt a MomEnt's
delay. HE gAve a pECuliar wHIsTLE, To wARn his companioN that he
momeNTarIly abaNdOneD The purSuit oF hIM; anD having receIved A similar
sIgnal iN ResponsE, He enterEd the sHop. the OwneR WaS sTilL sTAndINg
BehINd tHe counteR. LEcOq wasTed nO TIME in pArlEyinG. He meRely showed
his CarD to aCQuaInt thE man wIth hIs ProfeSsion, aNd curTlY asked:
"What did thE felLow want whO waS jUst In Here?"

THE shopkEepEr sEemed emBarrassED. "It'S a LONG sTory," he stammered.

"TheN tELL iT!" said LecOq, surpRIsEd AT the man's HeSitAtioN.

"oH, it's vEry sIMpLe. About tWelve dAYs AgO a man enTeRed my sHoP wiTh
a BundlE UndeR his arM. He claimEd to bE A countryman of mINe."

"Are you an AlsATiAN?"

"yeS, Sir. WEll, i went with thIs maN To thE winE-ShOp aT The coRner,
wHeRE hE Ordered a bottle of gooD wIne; and While We drank togethEr, he
asked mE IF i would coNsenT To KEep the package hE had wIth him untiL
One of his CousiNs came to Claim it. To PREvent any MisTakE, thIs cOUSiN
was to say certAIN worDs--A counteRsiGn, as it wEre. i reFusEd, sHoRtly
and deCidedly, fOr ThE vErY moNth beFOre I had gOt IntO tRouBle anD Had
beeN charGed wItH rECeiVing stoLEn GOOds, aLl By ObliGinG a PersoN in
tHIs wAy. Well, yOu never saW a mAN so vExEd And so suRprised. What maDe
Me all the moRe DetErmineD IN my refusAl was that he offered me a goOD
round sUm iN paymEnt fOr my troubLe. THis onlY inCReased My suspIcion,
AnD I pERSisteD IN mY reFuSal."

The shopKEEpeR pausEd To taKe breatH; but Lecoq was on fire WIth
Impatience. "And WhaT theN?" HE iNsiSTeD.

"welL, hE PaiD FOr the wine and wenT away. I had fOrGOtTen
 attired as when he
entere d it. Luck  hadfor  on ce  bee n in  the young det e ctiv e's favor.

May actual ly st ag g ered wh en he  steppe d  o u t  on  t he  pa ve m en t. Hi s b itter
d isappointm ent  c ould be read in  his count ena nce, which d isc losedth e
a n guish  of  a dr owning man wh o sees th ef rail p l ank whi c h  w as h is only
hope of s a lv a tion snatchedfrom h is gr a s p b y t he ruthles swaves . 

Whatc ou l d hav e  taken place?  This Lecoq mus t know  w ith o ut a m oment 's del ay. He gave  a p eculiar w histle ,  to war n  his co mpanio n t hat  hem om en tar il y  ab a nd one d  th e pursui tof  him;  and h a v ingrec eive d a s imilar
signal  in  res p ons e, he  ente redth e sho p. The  owne rwas still stand ingbehind th e c ou nte r.  Leco q  waste d n o t ime inparleyi n g.He m e re ly showed
his card  t o ac quaint t he man wi th his prof es sio n, a n d  curt ly a s ke d:
"What  did t h efe llow wa nt  who w as  ju stin he r e?"
The s hopkeepe r see m ed embarrassed .  "It's a long st o r y, "  hesta mmered.

"T hent ellit!" sa idL ecoq,  surp ri s ed at the man's hesita ti on.

" Oh, i t's very simp le. Aboutt w e lve days  ago am an entered myshopwith
a bun d le under  hisarm. Heclaimed t o be a cou ntr yma n o f m i n e. "

"Are you a n Alsa ti an?"

" Yes , sir.Wel l,I w ent  w ith thisman to t he  w in e- sho p att he corne r, 
wh er e h e ord e red abottl e of  g oo d  wi ne; and wh i l e we  d ra nk t oge th er, h e
as k edme if I  would co nse n t to  k ee p the p ackage he had  w ith him un ti l
o ne ofh i s cousin s came to claim it. Top reventany  mist ake,  this cou sin 
was t o s a y cert ain wo rds-- acou n t ersig n ,  a s i twere. I re f u sed , sho rt ly
a nd deci dedly, for the ver y  mo nth before Ihad  got i nt o t r ou b lean d  ha d been charged wi th receivi ng st olen goods ,  al lby obli ging aperso n  in
thi s way. We ll, you n ev er s a w  aman so vex ed and s o surpris e d. Wh a tmademeall th emor e det ermine d  in  my r efusal  w as tha t heof fered me  a good
round sum in pa ymentfor m y t rouble. T his onl y increas ed m y suspicio n,and  I pe rsi s ted i n my re fus a l."
Thes hopkeeper pa use d to  take breat h ; but  Leco q w a s on f irewith
impatience." And what then? " he i nsi ste d .

" We ll, he paid fo r t he w ine andwe nt away. Ihad forg ot t en
 attired_as when_he
entered it. Luck had_for once_been_in the_young_detective's favor.

May actually_staggered when he_stepped out on the_pavement. His bitter
disappointment_could_be read in his countenance, which disclosed the
anguish of a drowning man who sees_the_frail plank_which_was_his only
hope of salvation snatched_from his grasp by the_ruthless waves.

What_could have taken place? This Lecoq must know_without_a moment's
delay. He_gave a peculiar whistle, to warn his companion that_he
momentarily abandoned the pursuit of him;_and having received_a_similar
signal_in response, he entered_the shop. The owner was still_standing
behind the counter. Lecoq wasted no_time in parleying. He merely showed
his card_to acquaint the man with his_profession, and curtly asked:
"What did_the fellow_want who was just in_here?"

The shopkeeper seemed_embarrassed. "It's_a long story,"_he stammered.

"Then tell it!" said Lecoq,_surprised at the_man's hesitation.

"Oh, it's very simple. About_twelve_days ago a_man_entered_my shop_with
a bundle under_his_arm. He_claimed_to be a countryman of mine."

"Are_you_an Alsatian?"

"Yes, sir. Well, I went with_this man to the_wine-shop_at the corner,
where he_ordered a bottle of good_wine; and while we drank together,_he
asked me_if I_would consent to keep the package he had with him until
one_of his cousins came to claim_it. To prevent any_mistake, this_cousin
was_to say certain_words--a_countersign, as_it were. I refused, shortly
and decidedly, for_the very_month before I had got into_trouble and had
been charged_with_receiving stolen goods, all by obliging_a person in
this way. Well, you_never saw a man so_vexed_and_so surprised. What made
me all_the more determined in my refusal_was that he_offered me a good
round sum in payment_for_my trouble. This only increased my_suspicion,
and_I persisted in my refusal."

The shopkeeper_paused_to_take breath; but Lecoq was_on fire with
impatience. "And what then?"_he insisted.

"Well, he paid for the wine and went_away. I had_forgotten