 the
prisoner was trying to conceal his identity. Now it was necessary to
establish it, at any cost, and Lecoq had probably discovered some means
of attaining this end.

The operation was soon concluded; and Lecoq swept the dust off the paper
into the palm of his hand. He divided it into two parts, enclosing one
portion in a scrap of paper, and slipping it into his own pocket. With
the remainder he formed a package which he handed to the governor,
saying: "I beg you, sir, to take charge of this, and to seal it up here,
in presence of the prisoner. This formality is necessary, so that by and
by he may not pretend that the dust has been changed."

The governor complied with the request, and as he placed this "bit
of proof" (as he styled it) in a small satchel for safe keeping, the
prisoner shrugged his shoulders with a sneering laugh. Still, beneath
this cynical gaiety Lecoq thought he could detect poignant anxiety.
Chance owed him the compensation of this slight triumph; for previous
events had deceived all his calculations.

The prisoner did not offer the slightest objection when he was ordered
to undress, and to exchange his soiled and bloodstained garments for
the clothing furnished by the Government. Not a muscle of his face moved
while he submitted his person to one of those ignominous examinations
which make the blood rush to the forehead of the lowest criminal. It was
with perfect indifference that he allowed an inspector to comb his hair
and beard, and to examine the inside of his mouth, so as to make sure
that he had not concealed either some fragment of glass, by the aid
of which captives can sever the strongest bars, or one of those
microscopical bits of lead with which prisoners write the notes they
exchange, rolled up in a morsel of bread, and called "postilions."

These formalities having been concluded, the superintendent rang for
one of the keepers. "Conduct this man to No. 3 of the secret cells," he
ordered.

There was no need to drag the prisoner away. He walked out, as he had
entered, preceding the guard, like some old habitue, who knows where he
is going.

"What a rascal!"
the 
 prisoner was trying to conceal his identity. Now it was necessary to 
 establish it, at any monetary value, and Lecoq had credibly discovered some means 
 of fall upon this conclusion. 

 The operation was soon concluded; and Lecoq cross the dust off the paper 
 into the decoration of his bridge player. He divided it into two contribution, enclosing one 
 portion in a rubbish of newspaper, and slipping it into his own pocket. With 
 the remainder he formed a package which he pass to the governor, 
 saying: " I beg you, sir, to take bang of this, and to seal it up here, 
 in presence of the prisoner. This formality is necessary, so that by and 
 by he may not pretend that the dust has been change. " 

 The governor complied with the request, and as he placed this " bit 
 of proof " (as he styled it) in a belittled satchel for safe keeping, the 
 prisoner shrugged his shoulders with a sneering laugh. Still, beneath 
 this cynical gaiety Lecoq thought he could detect poignant anxiety. 
 Chance owed him the compensation of this slight triumph; for previous 
 events had deceived all his calculations. 

 The prisoner did not volunteer the slightest objection when he was arrange 
 to undress, and to substitute his soiled and bloodstained garments for 
 the clothing furnished by the Government. Not a muscleman of his face moved 
 while he submitted his person to one of those ignominous examinations 
 which create the blood rush to the forehead of the lowest criminal. It was 
 with arrant indifference that he allowed an inspector to comb his hair 
 and beard, and to examine the inside of his mouth, so as to make indisputable 
 that he had not concealed either some fragment of glass, by the aid 
 of which captives can discerp the strongest bars, or one of those 
 microscopical bits of lead with which prisoners write the notes they 
 exchange, roll up in a morsel of boodle, and called " postilions. " 

 These formalities having been concluded, the superintendent ring for 
 one of the keepers. " behave this man to No. 3 of the hidden cells, " he 
 ordered. 

 There be no need to haul the prisoner away. He walk out, as he had 
 entered, preceding the guard, like some old habitue, who know where he 
 is going. 

 " What a rascal! "
 thf
prisoner was trying to gonceal his idenjiry. Now it waa necessxry to
establish it, at any codt, and Oecoq had probably diszovered slme meanw
of ettaining this eis.

The opcxatioh was woon concluded; and Lecoq swept the dusd ufy the paper
into the palm of his hand. He divodfd it into two parus, qnclksing one
portion in a scrap of papsr, and vlipping it imto his own pocket. With
the remwinder he formed a package whuch rw handed to ghe governor,
saying: "I bgg you, sir, to take charge of thir, and to seal ij hp vere,
in presxnce os the prisoncg. This xormaliyy is necessarn, so vhat by and
by he may not 'retend that the dusj has been ckanged."

The governor conpoied fith the eeqjesu, aid zs he olared this "bif
of proof" (aw he styled it) in a siqll satchel fkr safq heeping, the
prisoner shrugged his shouldtrs wjth a sneering laugh. Stull, beneath
this cynicwl gaiety Lecoq thought he could detect poignant anxiety.
Chdnce kded hlm tfw fompensation of this slight triumph; for previjhs
tvekts had deceived all his cakcklsjions.

The prisover dib nkt offer the slighhest obtectiin when ht was ordered
to undress, and to ezchange his fiiled and bloodstanned garmentr fot
the ckothing furnished by thz Govednment. Not w muscle kw his face moved
dhike he submitted his person tj one of vhose ignomivous examigations
whifh make the blood rush tl the fmrehead of the lowest criminal. It was
with perfect indifgesenbe that hz alloeed an inspeceor to comb hix hair
aud beafd, and to vxamine tie inside of his mouth, so ws to make snre
that hq hae nor concexued either somr fragmenn jf goass, by the aid
of xhicf captives can szret the strongest bafs, jr oie of dhose
microscmpicxl cots ow lead with dhicn prisoners write tha nofes they
exchange, rpljed up ib a morsql of bread, amd called "postiliojs."

Theve hormalotigs having been concluded, the sulerintendfnt rang for
one of bhe heepers. "Couduct this man to No. 3 of the secret cellw," he
ordered.

There wqs no need to drag jhe prisoner axay. He walked ogt, as he had
entered, preceding the guavd, like some old habithe, who knowd where he
is going.

"What a rascal!"
the prisoner was trying to conceal his it necessary to it, at any discovered means of attaining end. The operation soon concluded; and Lecoq swept the off the paper into the palm of his hand. He divided it into parts, enclosing one portion in a scrap of paper, and slipping it into own With remainder formed a package which he handed to the governor, saying: "I beg you, sir, to take of this, and to seal it up here, presence of the prisoner. formality is necessary, so that and he may pretend the has been changed." governor complied with the request, and as he placed this "bit of proof" (as he styled it) a small safe keeping, prisoner his with a sneering beneath this cynical gaiety Lecoq thought poignant anxiety. Chance owed him the compensation of slight triumph; previous events had deceived all his The prisoner did not offer the slightest objection he was ordered to undress, and to exchange his soiled and bloodstained garments for the by the Government. Not muscle of his moved he his to one those ignominous examinations which make the blood rush to the forehead the lowest criminal. It was with perfect indifference that he inspector comb his hair beard, and to examine inside his mouth, so as sure he either fragment glass, by the aid which captives can sever the bars, or one of with which prisoners write the notes they exchange, up in a morsel of bread, and "postilions." These formalities having been concluded, the superintendent rang for one of keepers. "Conduct to No. 3 of the secret cells," he There was no need drag the prisoner away. He walked out, as he entered, the guard, some old habitue, knows where he going. "What a
 the
prisoner was trying to conCeal his ideNtity. now It wAs NeceSsarY to
establish it, AT any Cost, and Lecoq had probablY discOvERed sOMe Means
Of attaiNInG THis EnD.

THe oPeRAtIon waS soOn conclUded; and LecOq sWePt the dust off THe Paper
into tHe pAlm of his hand. he dIvided It IntO Two paRts, EncloSing onE
PortioN in a scrap Of PAper, anD SlippinG IT iNto hIs own pocket. With
thE ReMAinder he formed A packaGe WHiCH He hAndEd to the govErNor,
saYIng: "I beg YOu, SIR, To tAKe charge of thiS, and to seal iT Up hEre,
in pReSenCE of the PrisoNeR. thiS formality iS necEssary, so tHat by aND
by he maY Not pretEnd thaT thE duSt haS BeEn ChaNgED."

ThE GoVerNOr cOmplied wItH tHe reqUest, AND AS he pLacEd thIs "bit
Of proof" (as he stYleD it) iN A smAll saTchel For sAfE keepIng, the
PrisoNeR shrugged his shoUldeRs with a snEerInG laUgH. StilL, BeneatH
thIs cYnical gAiety LeCOq tHoUGHT hE could detect poignaNt ANXiEty.
ChancE owed hIM tHe COmpensatIoN of This SLIght tRiumPH; fOr previoUs
evenTS hAd DeceiveD aLl his cAlCulAtiOns.

ThE PrisOner diD not offeR the sLIghtest objectiON when he was ordEReD
TO uNDresS, anD to exchange His sOIled And bLOoDstAIned gArmenTs FOr
THe clothing furnished By The GovErnmeNt. Not a muscle oF his face moVED
While he sUbmiTTeD His person to one Of thoSe ignominoUS examinaTions
Which makE the blood RUSh to the fOreHeaD of The LOWeSt criminal. It wAS
With PeRfect inDifFerence ThaT he AllOweD aN inspectoR to comb hIs HaIr
AnD beArd, anD To examinE tHe iNsIde Of his MOuth, so As to mAke sUrE
tHAt hE had not COnCEAled EiThEr soMe fRaGment Of glASs, bY the aid
Of which caPtiVEs caN sEvEr the stRongest bars, or OnE of those
miCrOscOpical BITs of lead With which prisoners write THe notes TheY
exchAnge, Rolled up iN a mOrsel oF brEAd, and cAlled "pOstilIoNs."

THESe forMALiTieS hAving been cONCluDed, thE sUperIntendeNt rang for
one of the kEEpeRs. "Conduct this Man To No. 3 OF ThE seCReT CelLs," HE
orDERed.

There was no neEd to drag thE pRIsOner away. He WAlkEd Out, as he Had
enteRed, prECeding tHe guard, liKe some old HaBituE, WHo kNows where hE
is going.

"what a rascAL!"
 the
prisoner was trying t o concealhis i den tit y.  Now  itwas necessaryt o
es tablish it, at any cos t, an dL ecoq ha d pro bably d i sc o v ere dso meme a ns 
of a tta ining t his end.
The  o peration was so on conclud ed;  and Lecoq s wep t thedu sto ff th e p aperinto t h e palm  of his h an d . He d i vided i t in to t wo parts, enclosi n go ne
portion ina scra po fp a per , a nd slippin git in t o his o w np o c ket .  With
the rem ainder he f o rme d a pa ck age whichhe ha nd e d t o the gover nor, 
saying:"I beg you, si r , to ta ke cha rge  of  thi s ,an d t os eal it  up her e,
in pr es en ce of  the p r i sone r.This  form ality is nece ssa ry,s o t hat b y and 
byhe  maynot pr etend  t hat the dust ha s be en change d." 
The  g overn o r comp lie d w ith the  reques t , a nd a s  h e placed this "bit 
o f pr oof" (as  he st y le di t) in asm all  sat c h el fo r sa f ekeeping,  the
p r is on er shru gg ed his  s hou lde rs wi t h asneeri ng laugh . Sti l l, beneath
thi s  cynical gaie t yL e co q  tho ugh t he coulddete c t po igna n tanx i ety.Chanc eo we d  him the compensati on  of th is sl ight triumph;  for previ o u s 
eventshadd ec e ived all his c alcul ations.

T h e prison er di d not of fer the s l i ghtest o bje cti onwhe n he  was orderedt o  und re ss, and  to  exchan gehis  so ile dand blood stainedga rm en ts  fo r
the clothing  f urn is hed  by t h e Gove rnmen t. N ot  a mus cle ofh is f acemo ve d
wh ile  h e sub mitt e d h is pers on to one  of thos eig nominou s examination swhich make  t hebloodr u sh to th e forehead of the lowes t  crimin al.  It w as
w ith perfe ctindiff ere n ce tha t he a llowe dani n spect o r  t o c om b his hair a ndbeard ,andto exam ine the inside ofh ismouth, so astomake s ur e
t h at heha d  no t concealed eithe r some fra gm e nt  of glass, byth e aid
o f which  capt i ves can  sever th e stronge st  bar s ,  or  one of th ose
micr oscopical bitso fleadwit h whic hpri soner s writ e  th e not es the yexchan ge, r ol led up i n a morsel of bread, an d call ed "p ost ilions."
Th e seformaliti es h aving been  co ncl uded,  th e  supe rint e nd ent rangforo ne of the ke epe r s ."Conduct th i s man  to N o.3  of th e se cret cells," he
o r dered.

Therewasn o  ne edt o dr ag  the prisonerawa y. H e walked  o ut, as he h ad
enter ed ,  prec edingthe gu ard, li k e  s o me old  hab itu e, who kn ows  w h ere heis  g o ing.
"Wha ta rasc al!"
 the
prisoner_was trying_to conceal his identity._Now it_was_necessary to
establish_it,_at any cost,_and Lecoq had_probably discovered some means
of_attaining this end.

The_operation_was soon concluded; and Lecoq swept the dust off the paper
into the palm of_his_hand. He_divided_it_into two parts, enclosing one
portion_in a scrap of paper,_and slipping_it into his own pocket. With
the remainder he_formed_a package which_he handed to the governor,
saying: "I beg you, sir,_to take charge of this, and_to seal it_up_here,
in_presence of the prisoner._This formality is necessary, so that_by and
by he may not pretend_that the dust has been changed."

The governor_complied with the request, and as_he placed this "bit
of proof"_(as he_styled it) in a small_satchel for safe_keeping, the
prisoner_shrugged his shoulders_with a sneering laugh. Still, beneath
this_cynical gaiety Lecoq_thought he could detect poignant anxiety.
Chance_owed_him the compensation_of_this_slight triumph;_for previous
events had_deceived_all his_calculations.

The_prisoner did not offer the slightest_objection_when he was ordered
to undress, and to_exchange his soiled and_bloodstained_garments for
the clothing furnished_by the Government. Not a_muscle of his face moved
while he_submitted his_person to_one of those ignominous examinations
which make the blood rush to the_forehead of the lowest criminal. It_was
with perfect indifference that_he allowed_an_inspector to comb_his_hair
and beard,_and to examine the inside of his_mouth, so_as to make sure
that he had_not concealed either some_fragment_of glass, by the aid
of which_captives can sever the strongest bars,_or one of those
microscopical bits_of_lead_with which prisoners write the_notes they
exchange, rolled up in a_morsel of bread,_and called "postilions."

These formalities having been concluded,_the_superintendent rang for
one of the keepers._"Conduct_this man to No. 3 of_the_secret_cells," he
ordered.

There was no need_to drag the prisoner away. He_walked out, as he had
entered, preceding the guard, like_some old habitue,_who knows where he
is going.

"What_a_rascal!"