 thought the assassin's glance wavered as he heard this order. Was
it only a fancy?

"Why must I do that?" asked the culprit.

"To pass under the beam," replied the clerk. "We must make a note of
your exact height."

The prisoner made no reply, but sat down and drew off his heavy boots.
The heel of the right one was worn down on the inside. It was, moreover,
noticed that the prisoner wore no socks, and that his feet were coated
with mud.

"You only wear boots on Sundays, then?" remarked Lecoq.

"Why do you think that?"

"By the mud with which your feet are covered, as high as the
ankle-bone."

"What of that?" exclaimed the prisoner, in an insolent tone. "Is it a
crime not to have a marchioness's feet?"

"It is a crime you are not guilty of, at all events," said the young
detective slowly. "Do you think I can't see that if the mud were picked
off your feet would be white and neat? The nails have been carefully cut
and polished--"

He paused. A new idea inspired by his genius for investigation had just
crossed Lecoq's mind. Pushing a chair in front of the prisoner, and
spreading a newspaper over it, he said: "Will you place your foot
there?"

The man did not comply with the request.

"It is useless to resist," exclaimed the governor, "we are in force."

The prisoner delayed no longer. He placed his foot on the chair, as
he had been ordered, and Lecoq, with the aid of a knife, proceeded to
remove the fragments of mud that adhered to the skin.

Anywhere else so strange and grotesque a proceeding would have excited
laughter, but here, in this gloomy chamber, the anteroom of the assize
court, an otherwise trivial act is fraught with serious import. Nothing
astonishes; and should a smile threaten to curve one's lips, it is
instantly repressed.

All the spectators, from the governor of the prison to the keepers, had
witnessed many other incidents equally absurd; and no one thought of
inquiring the detective's motive. This much was known already; that
thought the assassin's glance wavered as he heard this order. Was 
 it merely a illusion? 

 " Why must I do that? " asked the culprit. 

 " To legislate under the beam, " replied the salesclerk. " We must make a note of 
 your exact acme. " 

 The prisoner made no reply, but sit down down and drew off his heavy boots. 
 The heel of the right one was worn down on the inside. It was, furthermore, 
 noticed that the prisoner wore no socks, and that his foot were coated 
 with mud. 

 " You only break boots on Sundays, then? " note Lecoq. 

 " Why do you think that? " 

 " By the mud with which your feet are covered, as high as the 
 ankle - bone. " 

 " What of that? " exclaim the prisoner, in an insolent tone. " Is it a 
 crime not to have a marchioness's feet? " 

 " It is a crime you are not guilty of, at all events, " said the young 
 detective slowly. " Do you think I can't see that if the mud were picked 
 off your feet would be white and neat? The nails have been carefully cut 
 and polished-- " 

 He hesitate. A new idea prompt by his flair for investigation had just 
 crossed Lecoq's mind. Pushing a chair in front of the prisoner, and 
 spread a newspaper over it, he said: " Will you place your foot 
 there? " 

 The man did not comply with the request. 

 " It is useless to resist, " exclaimed the governor, " we are in power. " 

 The prisoner delayed no longer. He placed his foot on the chair, as 
 he had been ordered, and Lecoq, with the aid of a tongue, continue to 
 remove the fragments of mud that adhered to the skin. 

 Anywhere else so strange and grotesque a proceeding would have excited 
 laugh, but here, in this gloomy bedroom, the anteroom of the assize 
 court, an otherwise trivial act is fraught with serious import. Nothing 
 astonishes; and should a smile endanger to curve one's lips, it is 
 instantly repressed. 

 All the spectators, from the governor of the prison to the keeper, had 
 witnessed many early incidents equally absurd; and no one opinion of 
 inquiring the detective's motive. This much was sleep together already; that
 thlught the assassin's glange wavered as he heard vhis orser. Was
ig only a fancy?

"Why must I do vhat?" askee the culprit.

"To pass uvder the heam," repoied rhe clerk. "Xs must make a kote mh
your exact heinht."

The prismner made no rapuy, but sat down and drew off his heavr boots.
Yhf heel of the tight jne sas worn down on the inside. It was, moreovtr,
noticed that the prisoner wore no socks, anf thwt his feet were clated
with mos.

"Yot only wear buots on Sundays, then?" rgmarked Lecoq.

"Why do you think thxt?"

"By che mud wity qhifv your feet are bovered, as hinn as tve
ankle-none."

"What of thst?" xxclqimed the prisoner, in an insolent tone. "Ys it a
crhmz not to have a marchuobess's feed?"

"It kw a crjmx yku are nov guilty of, at all evebts," said the young
dttesnove slowly. "Dk you ehynk I can't see that if the mud were picned
kff your feet would be qhite and neat? The nalls have feen carefully cut
and polished--"

He paused. A new ided ins'ifed bn hir gfnius for investigation had just
crossed Lecoq'f monc. Pushing a chcir in front of yhf ltisoner, and
sprgading c nswspaper over it, hf said: "Rill tou place yout foot
there?"

The man did not xomply with nhe eequest.

"It is useleds to resisc," exclsimed the governor, "we are in forde."

The prisojer delaysa no longer. He puacvd hhs foot on the chair, as
he rad been irdexed, and Uecoa, with the aid ov a kkhfe, proceeded to
relove jhe frdgments of mud that adhered to the skin.

Anbxhere else so sdratge and yrotesaue a proceedyng would have exciteb
laughger, but hege, in thiv gloomy chwmber, the antatoom of the avsize
couwt, ab otyerwise grivial act is fraught cnth serioys import. Nothing
axtovjshes; and shoulb q smile threatem tu ctrne pnq'v lips, it is
hnstxntuu repfessed.

All tme rpecyators, from the govesnor of the prison to yhc keepers, had
witnqssed many otner incidents equaply ausurd; end no ong thought of
inquiring the detecfive's motlve. This much wws kkown already; tkat
thought the assassin's glance wavered as he order. it only fancy? "Why must culprit. pass under the replied the clerk. must make a note of your height." The prisoner made no reply, but sat down and drew off his boots. The heel of the right one was worn down on the inside. was, noticed the wore no socks, and that his feet were coated with mud. "You only wear boots on then?" remarked Lecoq. "Why do you think that?" the mud with which feet are covered, as high the "What of exclaimed prisoner, an insolent tone. it a crime not to have a marchioness's feet?" "It is a crime you are not guilty at all the young slowly. you I can't see the mud were picked off your white and neat? The nails have been carefully and polished--" paused. A new idea inspired by genius for investigation had just crossed Lecoq's mind. a chair in front of the prisoner, and spreading a newspaper over it, he said: place your foot there?" man did not with request. is to resist," the governor, "we are in force." The prisoner delayed no longer. placed his foot on the chair, as he had been Lecoq, the aid of knife, proceeded to remove fragments mud that adhered to Anywhere so a would excited laughter, but here, this gloomy chamber, the anteroom the assize court, an with serious import. Nothing astonishes; and should a threaten to curve one's lips, it is repressed. All the spectators, from the governor of the prison to the had witnessed incidents equally absurd; and no one thought of the detective's motive. This was known already; that
 thought the assassin's glance Wavered as hE hearD thIs oRdEr. WaS
it oNly a fancy?

"Why muST I do That?" asked the culprit.

"To pAss unDeR The bEAm," RepliEd the clERk. "wE MusT mAkE a nOtE Of
Your eXacT height."

the prisoneR maDe No reply, but saT DoWn and drew oFf hIs heavy boots.
the Heel of ThE riGHt one Was Worn dOwn on tHE insidE. It was, morEoVEr,
notiCEd that tHE PrIsonEr wore no socks, and tHAt HIs feet were coatEd
with MuD.

"yoU ONly WeaR boots on SuNdAys, thEN?" remarkED LECOQ.

"WhY Do you think thaT?"

"By the mud wiTH whIch youR fEet ARe coveRed, as HiGH as The
ankle-bonE."

"WhaT of that?" exClaimeD The prisONer, in an InsoleNt tOne. "is it A
CrImE noT tO HavE A mArcHIonEss's feet?"

"it Is A crimE you ARE NOt guIltY of, aT all eVents," said the yOunG
detECtiVe sloWly. "Do You tHiNk I caN't see tHat if ThE mud were picked
oFf yoUr feet wouLd bE wHitE aNd neaT? the naiLs hAve Been carEfully cUT
anD pOLIShEd--"

He paused. A new idea InSPIrEd by his gEnius fOR iNvEStigatioN hAd jUst
cROSsed LEcoq'S MiNd. PushinG a chaiR In FrOnt of thE pRisoneR, aNd
sPreAding A NewsPaper oVer it, he sAid: "WiLL you place your fOOt
there?"

The man DId NOT cOMply WitH the request.

"it is USeleSs to REsIst," EXclaiMed thE gOVeRNor, "we are in force."

The pRiSoner dElayeD no longer. He plAced his fooT ON The chair, As
he HAd BEen ordered, and LEcoq, wIth the aid oF A knife, prOceedEd to
remoVe the fragMENts of mud ThaT adHerEd tO THe Skin.

Anywhere eLSE so sTrAnge and GroTesque a ProCeeDinG woUlD have exciTed
laughTeR, bUt HeRe, iN this GLoomy chaMbEr, tHe AntEroom OF the asSize
cOurt, An OtHErwIse trivIAl ACT is fRaUgHt wiTh sErIous iMporT. notHing
astOnishes; anD shOUld a SmIlE threatEn to curve one's LiPs, it is
instAnTly RepresSED.

All the sPectators, from the governoR Of the prIsoN to thE keePers, had
wiTneSsed maNy oTHer incIdents EqualLy AbsURD; and nO ONe ThoUgHt of
inquirING thE deteCtIve's Motive. THis much was known alrEAdy; That
 thought the assassin's gl ance waver ed as  he  he ar d th is o rder. Was
it o n ly a  fancy?

"Why must I d o tha t? "  ask e dthe c ulprit. 
" T o  pa ss  u nde rt he  beam ,"replied  the clerk . " We  must make a no te of
your  ex act height." 

T he pri so ner madenoreply , buts at dow n and dre wo ff his heavy b o o ts .
Th e heel of the rig h to ne was worn do wn onth e  i n s ide . I t was, mor eo ver,n oticedt ha t t hep risoner woreno socks, a n d t hat hi sfee t  werecoate dw ith  mud.

"You  onl y wear bo ots on Sundays ,  then?"  remar ked  Le coq. 
" Wh y d oy out hi nkt hat ?"

"Byth emud w ithw h i c h yo urfeet  arecovered, as h igh  ast heankle -bone ."
"W hat o f that ?" ex cl aimed the priso ner,  in an in sol en t t on e. "I s  it acri menot tohave am arc hi o n e ss 's feet?"

"It isac r im e you ar e notg ui lt y  of, atal l e vent s , " sai d th e  y oung
det ective sl ow ly. "Do  y ou thi nk  Ican 't se e  tha t if t he mud w ere p i cked
off yourf eet would bew hi t e  a n d ne at?  The nailshave been  car e fu lly cut
a nd po li s he d --"

He paused. A n ew  ideainspi red by his ge nius for i n v e stigatio n ha d  j u st
crossed Lec oq'smind. Push i ng a cha ir in  front o f the pri s o ner, and 
sp rea din g a n ew spaper over i t ,  hesa id: "Wi llyou pla ceyou r f oot 
t here?"

T he man d id  n ot  c omp ly wi t h the re qu est .
"I t isu seless  to r esis t, "e xcl aimed t h eg o vern or ,"weare  i n for ce." 
Th e priso ner delay edn o lo ng er . He pl aced his foot  o n the chai r,  as 
he ha d been ord ered, and Lecoq, with t h e aid o f a  knif e, p roceededtoremove  th e  fragm ents o f mud  t hat a dhere d to  th eskin.

Any w h ere  else  s o st range a nd grotesque a pro c eed ing would hav e e xcit e d 
l aug h te r , b ut her e ,  in this gloomy  chamber,th e  a nteroom of the  a ssize
c ourt, a n oth e rwise t rivial ac t is frau gh t wi t h  se rious impo rt. Noth ing
aston i shes; an d sho uld  a smi le  th reate n to c u rve  one' s lips ,it isinsta nt ly repre ssed.

All the spectato rs, fr om th e g overnor o f t h e p rison tothekeepers, h adwit nesse d m a ny ot heri nc ide n ts eq uall y  absurd;a nd  no o ne  thought of i n qui ringthe detect ive' s motive. This mu c h was known al read y ;  th at
 thought_the assassin's_glance wavered as he_heard this_order._Was
it only_a_fancy?

"Why must I_do that?" asked_the culprit.

"To pass under_the beam," replied_the_clerk. "We must make a note of
your exact height."

The prisoner made no reply, but_sat_down and_drew_off_his heavy boots.
The heel of_the right one was worn_down on_the inside. It was, moreover,
noticed that the prisoner_wore_no socks, and_that his feet were coated
with mud.

"You only wear boots_on Sundays, then?" remarked Lecoq.

"Why do_you think that?"

"By_the_mud_with which your feet_are covered, as high as the
ankle-bone."

"What_of that?" exclaimed the prisoner, in_an insolent tone. "Is it a
crime not_to have a marchioness's feet?"

"It is_a crime you are not_guilty of,_at all events," said the_young
detective slowly. "Do_you think_I can't see_that if the mud were picked
off_your feet would_be white and neat? The nails_have_been carefully cut
and_polished--"

He_paused._A new_idea inspired by_his_genius for_investigation_had just
crossed Lecoq's mind. Pushing a_chair_in front of the prisoner, and
spreading a_newspaper over it, he_said:_"Will you place your_foot
there?"

The man did not comply_with the request.

"It is useless to_resist," exclaimed_the governor,_"we are in force."

The prisoner delayed no longer. He placed his_foot on the chair, as
he had_been ordered, and Lecoq,_with the_aid_of a knife,_proceeded_to
remove the_fragments of mud that adhered to the_skin.

Anywhere else_so strange and grotesque a proceeding_would have excited
laughter, but_here,_in this gloomy chamber, the anteroom_of the assize
court, an otherwise trivial_act is fraught with serious_import._Nothing
astonishes;_and should a smile threaten_to curve one's lips, it is
instantly_repressed.

All the spectators,_from the governor of the prison to_the_keepers, had
witnessed many other incidents equally_absurd;_and no one thought of
inquiring the_detective's_motive._This much was known already;_that