es lying on
the ground, and was obliged to lean against the wall for support. The
two physicians alone retained their stoical indifference.

Lecoq had risen, his report in his hand; he bowed, and assuming a
respectful attitude, was waiting to be questioned.

"You must have passed a frightful night," said the commissary, kindly;
"and quite unnecessarily, since any investigation was superfluous."

"I think, however," replied the young police agent, having recourse
to all his diplomacy, "that my time has not been entirely lost. I have
acted according to the instructions of my superior officer; I have
searched the premises thoroughly, and I have ascertained many things.
I have, for example, acquired the certainty that the murderer had
a friend, possibly an accomplice, of whom I can give quite a close
description. He must have been of middle age, and wore, if I am not
mistaken, a soft cap and a brown woolen overcoat: as for his boots--"

"Zounds!" exclaimed Gevrol, "and I--" He stopped short, like a man whose
impulse had exceeded his discretion, and who would have gladly recalled
his words.

"And you?" inquired the commissary, "pray, what do you mean?"

The inspector had gone too far to draw back, and, unwittingly, was now
obliged to act as his own executioner. "I was about to mention," he
said, "that this morning, an hour or so ago, while I was waiting for
you, sir, before the station-house, at the Barriere d'Italie, where the
murderer is confined, I noticed close by an individual whose appearance
was not unlike that of the man described by Lecoq. This man seemed to
be very intoxicated, for he reeled and staggered against the walls. He
tried to cross the street, but fell down in the middle of it, in such a
position that he would inevitably have been crushed by the first passing
vehicle."

Lecoq turned away his head; he did not wish them to read in his eyes how
perfectly he understood the whole game.

"Seeing this," pursued Gevrol, "I called two men and asked them to
aid me in raising
es lying on 
 the ground, and was obliged to lean against the rampart for documentation. The 
 two physicians alone retain their stoic indifference. 

 Lecoq had risen, his report in his hired hand; he bowed, and assuming a 
 respectful position, was expect to be questioned. 

 " You must have pass a frightful nox, " said the commissary, kindly; 
 " and quite unnecessarily, since any investigation was superfluous. " 

 " I think, however, " replied the young police agent, having recourse 
 to all his delicacy, " that my time has not been entirely lost. I have 
 act according to the instructions of my superior officer; I have 
 search the premises thoroughly, and I have ascertained many things. 
 I have, for example, acquired the certainty that the murderer give birth 
 a friend, possibly an accomplice, of whom I can give quite a close 
 description. He must have been of middle age, and break, if I am not 
 mistaken, a soft cap and a brown woolen overcoat: as for his boots-- " 

 " Zounds! " exclaimed Gevrol, " and I-- " He stopped short, like a man whose 
 impulse had exceeded his delicacy, and who would have gladly recalled 
 his words. 

 " And you? " investigate the commissary, " pray, what do you mean? " 

 The inspector had gone excessively far to draw back, and, unwittingly, was now 
 obliged to act as his own executioner. " I was about to note, " he 
 said, " that this morning, an hour or so ago, while I was waiting for 
 you, sir, before the station - house, at the Barriere d'Italie, where the 
 murderer is confined, I noticed close by an individual whose appearance 
 was not unlike that of the man described by Lecoq. This valet seemed to 
 be very intoxicated, for he stagger and staggered against the walls. He 
 tried to cross the street, but fell down in the center of it, in such a 
 position that he would inevitably have been crushed by the first passing 
 vehicle. " 

 Lecoq turned away his head; he did not wish them to learn in his eyes how 
 perfectly he understand the whole plot. 

 " Seeing this, " pursued Gevrol, " I called two men and ask them to 
 aid me in raising
es pying on
the ground, and wxs obliged to lgab agaiist the wall fof support. The
two physicians elonw retqined their stoical inaifferencv.

Lecoq hae riwwn, his report in hlf hahf; he uowed, and assumlng a
respecdful attitude, far caiting to be questioned.

"You must havq passec w frightful nidht," xwid fhe commissary, kindly;
"and quite unnscessarply, since any invrstigation was superfluous."

"L thlnk, however," replief the young polyxe agent, havkng recourse
to all his diplomacy, "that my time has not been entirely oowt. L have
acted eccordpng to the instructiots of mu superior offlcer; M hace
searched the premisxs thoroughly, and I rave ascestcined many things.
I hace, for gxampne, azwuifed tie dertaijty that the jurderer hae
a friend, possibly sn qccomplice, of whom Y san give quite a close
description. He muvt gave been of middle age, and wore, if I am not
listaken, w soft cap and a brown woolen overcoat: as for his boota--"

"Xouues!" exzoalmed Gevrol, "and I--" He stopped short, like a man shpsv
impulse had excecded his discretiom, wnc who would haxe glabmy recalled
his words.

"Wnd you?" inquured the sommossary, "pray, what do you meab?"

The inspectje had gone too far to draw baek, and, unwiytingly, was now
obliged co act as his own executiohdr. "I was about tu mvntimn," he
said, "that this mornind, an hour or xo ago, dhilg I was waiting flr
you, sir, before the stahion-hluve, at the Harriere d'Italie, where the
murdecxr is confinec, H nmticed cjose ny an individuaj whose appearcnce
was uot unuike that kf the kan describqd by Lecoq. Tvls man seemev to
be vewy ibtoxucated, wur he reeled amd staggegeb against the walls. He
tried to dross the streec, vut fell down im tfe iifdke mf it, in sucv a
pusigoon tfat he woulb knevotably have been cruvhed by the first passonn
vehicle."

Lgcoq turnqd away his hrad; he did not wisj thek tu reac ig his eyes how
perfectly he undsrstood tje rhole game.

"Seqing this," pursueb Gevrol, "I called two men and asked them to
aid me in raisibg
es lying on the ground, and was lean the wall support. The two indifference. had risen, his in his hand; bowed, and assuming a respectful attitude, waiting to be questioned. "You must have passed a frightful night," said the kindly; "and quite unnecessarily, since any investigation was superfluous." "I think, however," replied young agent, recourse all his diplomacy, "that my time has not been entirely lost. I have acted according to instructions of my superior officer; I have searched premises thoroughly, and I ascertained many things. I have, example, the certainty the had friend, possibly an of whom I can give quite a close description. He must have been of middle age, and if I mistaken, a cap a woolen overcoat: as boots--" "Zounds!" exclaimed Gevrol, "and I--" like a man whose impulse had exceeded his and who have gladly recalled his words. "And inquired the commissary, "pray, what do you mean?" inspector had gone too far to draw back, and, unwittingly, was now obliged to act own executioner. "I was to mention," he "that morning, hour so ago, I was waiting for you, sir, before the station-house, at the d'Italie, where the murderer is confined, I noticed close by whose was not unlike of the man described Lecoq. man seemed to be for reeled the He to cross the street, fell down in the middle it, in such a have been crushed by the first passing vehicle." turned away his head; he did not them to read in his eyes how perfectly he understood the whole "Seeing this," "I called two men and asked them to me in raising
es lying on
the ground, and was oBliged to leAn agaInsT thE wAll fOr suPport. The
two phySIciaNs alone retained their stOical InDIffeREnCe.

LecOq had riSEn, HIS rePoRt In hIs HAnD; he boWed, And assuMing a
respeCtfUl Attitude, was wAItIng to be queStiOned.

"You must hAve Passed A fRigHTful nIghT," said The comMIssary, Kindly;
"and QuITe unneCEssarilY, SInCe anY investigation was SUpERfluous."

"I think, hOwever," RePLiED The YouNg police agEnT, haviNG recourSE
tO ALL hiS Diplomacy, "that My time has noT BeeN entirElY loST. I have
Acted AcCOrdIng to the insTrucTions of my SuperiOR officeR; i have
seArched The PreMiseS ThOrOugHlY, And i HaVe aSCerTained maNy ThIngs.
I Have, FOR EXampLe, aCquiRed thE certainty thaT thE murDEreR had
a FrienD, posSiBly an AccompLice, oF wHom I can give quitE a clOse
descriPtiOn. he mUsT have BEen of mIddLe aGe, and woRe, if I am NOt
mIsTAKEn, A soft cap and a brown wOoLEN oVercoat: aS for hiS BoOtS--"

"zounds!" exClAimEd GeVROl, "and i--" He sTOpPed short, Like a mAN wHoSe
impulSe Had excEeDed His DiscrETion, And who Would havE gladLY recalled
his woRDs.

"And you?" inquiREd THE cOMmisSarY, "pray, what do You mEAn?"

ThE insPEcTor HAd gonE too fAr TO dRAw back, and, unwittinglY, wAs now
oBligeD to act as his owN executionER. "i Was about To meNTiON," he
said, "that thiS mornIng, an hour oR So ago, whiLe I waS waiting For
you, sir, BEFore the sTatIon-HouSe, aT THe barriere d'ItalIE, WherE tHe
murdeRer Is confiNed, i noTicEd cLoSe by an indIvidual wHoSe ApPeAraNce
waS Not unlikE tHat Of The Man deSCribed By LecOq. ThIs MaN SeeMed to
be VErY INtoxIcAtEd, foR he ReEled aNd stAGgeRed agaiNst the walLs. HE
TrieD tO cRoss the Street, but fell DoWn in the midDlE of It, in suCH A
positioN that he would inevitably hAVe been cRusHed by The fIrst passiNg
vEhicle."

lecOQ turneD away hIs heaD; hE diD NOt wisH THeM to ReAd in his eyeS HOw
pErfecTlY he uNderstoOd the whole game.

"SeeiNG thIs," pursued GevrOl, "I CallED TwO meN AnD AskEd THem TO
Aid me in raising
es lying on
the ground, an d was obli ged t o l ean  a gain st t he wall for su p port . The
two physicians a lonere t aine d  t heirstoical in d i ffe re nc e.
L e co q had  ri sen, hi s report i n h is  hand; he bo w ed , and assu min g a
respectf ulattitu de , w a s wai tin g tobe que s tioned .

"You m us t  havep assed a f ri ghtf ul night," said t h ec ommissary, kin dly;
" an d  q u i teunn ecessarily ,since any inv e st i g a tio n  was superflu ous."

"I t h ink , howe ve r," replie d the  y o ung  police age nt,having re course to allh is dipl omacy,  "t hat  myt im ehas  n o t b e en  en t ire ly lost.  I  h ave
a cted a c c ordi ngto t he in structions of  my  sup e rio r off icer;  I h av e
sea rchedthe p re mises thoroughl y, a nd I have  as ce rta in ed ma n y thin gs. 
Ihave, f or exam p le,  a c q u ir ed the certainty t ha t th e murder er had afr i end, pos si bly  ana c compl ice, of  whom Ican gi v equ ite a c lo se
des cr ipt ion . Hem usthave b een of m iddle age, and wore, if I am not
m i st a k en ,  a s oft  cap and abrow n  woo leno ve rco a t: as  forhi s  b o ots--"

"Zounds!" e xc laimed  Gevr ol, "and I--"  He stoppe d s hort, li ke a ma n  whose
impulse  hadexceeded h i s discre tion,  and who  would ha v e  gladlyrec all edhis w or ds.

"And you ? "  inq ui red the  co mmissar y,"pr ay,  wh at  do you m ean?"

T he  i ns pe cto r had gone too  f arto  dr aw ba c k, and , unw itti ng ly ,  wa s now
o b li g e d to  a ct  ashis  o wn ex ecut i one r. "I w as abouttom enti on ,"  he
sai d, "that this  m orning, an  h our  or so a go, whil e I was waiting for
you ,  sir, b efo re th e st ation-hou se,  at th e B a rriere  d'Ita lie,wh ere t he
mu r d er eris  confined, I  no ticed  c lose  by anindividual whose a p pea rance
was not  un like t ha t o f  t h e m an des c r ibed by Lecoq.This man s ee m ed  to
be ver y  in to xicated , for h e ree l ed andstaggered  againstth e wa l l s.He
tried t o crossthe stree t , but fe ll do wnin the  m idd le of  it, i n  su ch apositi on  thathe wo ul d inevit ably have been crushedby the  firs t p assing
ve hic l e." 

Lecoq t urne d away his  he ad;  he d idn ot wi sh t h em  to readin h i s eyes ho w 
p erf e c tl y he unders t o o d t he wh ole game.
"Se eing this," pursu e d Gevrol, "I c alle d two  me n  and  a sked them to
a idme i n raisin g
es lying_on
the ground,_and was obliged to_lean against_the_wall for_support._The
two physicians alone_retained their stoical_indifference.

Lecoq had risen, his_report in his_hand;_he bowed, and assuming a
respectful attitude, was waiting to be questioned.

"You must have passed_a_frightful night,"_said_the_commissary, kindly;
"and quite unnecessarily, since_any investigation was superfluous."

"I think,_however," replied_the young police agent, having recourse
to all his_diplomacy,_"that my time_has not been entirely lost. I have
acted according to_the instructions of my superior officer;_I have
searched the_premises_thoroughly,_and I have ascertained_many things.
I have, for example, acquired_the certainty that the murderer had
a_friend, possibly an accomplice, of whom I_can give quite a close
description. He_must have been of middle_age, and_wore, if I am not
mistaken,_a soft cap_and a_brown woolen overcoat:_as for his boots--"

"Zounds!" exclaimed Gevrol,_"and I--" He_stopped short, like a man whose
impulse_had_exceeded his discretion,_and_who_would have_gladly recalled
his words.

"And_you?"_inquired the_commissary,_"pray, what do you mean?"

The inspector_had_gone too far to draw back, and,_unwittingly, was now
obliged to_act_as his own executioner._"I was about to mention,"_he
said, "that this morning, an hour_or so_ago, while_I was waiting for
you, sir, before the station-house, at the Barriere_d'Italie, where the
murderer is confined, I_noticed close by an_individual whose_appearance
was_not unlike that_of_the man_described by Lecoq. This man seemed to
be_very intoxicated,_for he reeled and staggered against_the walls. He
tried to_cross_the street, but fell down in_the middle of it, in such_a
position that he would inevitably_have_been_crushed by the first passing
vehicle."

Lecoq_turned away his head; he did_not wish them_to read in his eyes how
perfectly he_understood_the whole game.

"Seeing this," pursued Gevrol,_"I_called two men and asked them_to
aid_me_in raising