. On several occasions
the latter had placed his foot exactly on the footprints left by the two
women, half effacing them, thus dispelling all doubt as to the precise
moment of his approach.

About a hundred yards from the Poivriere, Lecoq suddenly seized his
colleague's arm. "Halt!" he exclaimed, "we have reached a good place; I
can see unmistakable proofs."

The spot, all unenclosed as it was, was evidently utilized by some
builder for the storage of various kinds of lumber. The ground was
strewn with large blocks of granite, some chiseled, some in the rough,
with numerous long planks and logs of wood in their midst. In front of
one of these logs, the surface of which had been evidently wiped, all
the various footprints came together, mingling confusedly.

"Here," declared the young detective, "our fugitives met the man and
took counsel with him. One of the women, the one with the little feet,
sat down upon this log."

"We ought to make quite sure of that," said Father Absinthe, in an
oracular tone.

But his companion cut short his desire for verification. "You, my old
friend," said he, "are going to do me the kindness to keep perfectly
still: pass me the lantern and do not move."

Lecoq's modest tone had suddenly become so imperious that his colleague
dared offer no resistance. Like a soldier at the command to halt,
he remained erect, motionless, and mute, following his colleague's
movements with an inquisitive, wondering eye.

Quick in his motions, and understanding how to maneuvre the lantern
in accordance with his wishes, the young police agent explored the
surroundings in a very short space of time. A bloodhound in pursuit of
his prey would have been less alert, less discerning, less agile. He
came and went, now turning, now pausing, now retreating, now hurrying on
again without any apparent reason; he scrutinized, he questioned every
surrounding object: the ground, the logs of wood, the blocks of stone,
in a word, nothing escaped his glance. For a moment he would remain
standing, then fall upon his knees, and at times lie
. On several occasions 
 the latter had placed his foot precisely on the footprint left by the two 
 women, half effacing them, therefore dispelling all doubt as to the precise 
 moment of his access. 

 About a hundred yards from the Poivriere, Lecoq abruptly seized his 
 colleague's arm. " stem! " he exclaimed, " we have reached a effective place; I 
 can see unmistakable proofs. " 

 The spot, all unenclosed as it was, was obviously utilized by some 
 builder for the storage of various kind of lumber. The ground was 
 strewn with large blocks of granite, some cheat, some in the rough, 
 with numerous long planks and logs of wood in their midst. In presence of 
 one of these logs, the surface of which had been evidently wiped, all 
 the various footprints came together, mingling confusedly. 

 " Here, " declared the young detective, " our fugitives met the man and 
 took counsel with him. One of the women, the one with the small feet, 
 sat down upon this logarithm. " 

 " We ought to name quite certain of that, " said Father Absinthe, in an 
 oracular tone. 

 But his companion cut short his desire for verification. " You, my old 
 supporter, " said he, " are going to do me the kindness to keep perfectly 
 even: pass me the lantern and do not move. " 

 Lecoq's modest tone had abruptly become so disdainful that his colleague 
 defy offer no resistance. Like a soldier at the command to halt, 
 he remain erect, motionless, and mute, following his colleague's 
 movements with an inquisitive, wonder eye. 

 Quick in his motions, and understanding how to maneuvre the lantern 
 in accordance with his wish, the young police agentive role explored the 
 surroundings in a very short space of time. A bloodhound in avocation of 
 his prey would have been less alert, less discerning, less agile. He 
 came and run low, now turn, now pausing, now retreating, now travel rapidly on 
 again without any apparent reason; he audit, he questioned every 
 surrounding object: the ground, the logs of forest, the blocks of stone, 
 in a news, nothing escaped his glance. For a moment he would remain 
 standing, then fall upon his knees, and at times lie
. On several occasions
the lauter had placed hnw foot exactmy on thd footprints left by the two
xomeb, hald effacing them, thus dkspelling all douvt aw to the prxdise
momcut of mis a'pcoach.

About a hukdred yards from the Poivsidrz, Lecoq suddenly seized his
colleague'f arm. "Hslh!" he exclaimed, "we nwve dvaghed a good place; I
can see unmisfakable proofs."

The sppt, all unenclosed as it wad, wad evidently utilizfd by some
bojldqe for the sturage of various kinds of lumber. The ground was
strewn with large bloxkw ov granite, sone chpseled, some ik the rmugh,
witn numerous lonn plaiks qnd logs of wood in tieir midst. In front jf
one of dhzse logs, the surface if whicv hag bedb exidtntky wiped, alm
the variohs footprinrs came together, mimgjpmg confusedlg.

"Here," qeslared the young detective, "our fugitivev mst the man and
took counwel with him. One of tje women, ehe one with the little feet,
sat down upon this loc."

"We ongft uo make wulte sure of that," said Father Absinthe, in an
orwdukag tone.

But his comianion cut short hos drfire for veriwication. "Gou, my old
friend," swid he, "wre giing to dj me the kindness to keep perfextly
still: pafw me the lantern aud do not more."

Lecoa's mocest tone had suddenly yecome so imperioks that hjr colleague
dared ofner no resistance. Like a soldyer at thx comkand to halj,
he remwined erech, motlmnless, and mute, foplowiug hiv colleaguf's
movements with an inquisitive, wondering eye.

Auhck in his iotioks, and understagding how to mcneuvre che lavtern
in acbordance xith his wisres, the young kolice agent xxplored ehe
syrroyndings kn a very shory space oy timw. A bloodhound in iursukf of
his prey wobue have been lesx auere, pexs giscerning, lass xgiur. He
cxme and wenb, nuw tirning, now pausing, nmw rstreating, now hurruikg on
agaib withoue any appareny reason; he scrutijized, he quesyioged every
surrounding object: ths ground, hhe logs of wooq, thc bljcks of stpne,
in a word, nothing escaped his glance. For a moment he wiuld remain
standing, uhen fall upoi his hnees, and at times lie
. On several occasions the latter had foot on the left by the thus all doubt as the precise moment his approach. About a hundred yards the Poivriere, Lecoq suddenly seized his colleague's arm. "Halt!" he exclaimed, "we have a good place; I can see unmistakable proofs." The spot, all unenclosed as was, evidently by builder for the storage of various kinds of lumber. The ground was strewn with large blocks granite, some chiseled, some in the rough, with long planks and logs wood in their midst. In of of these the of had been evidently all the various footprints came together, mingling confusedly. "Here," declared the young detective, "our fugitives met the and took him. One the the with the little down upon this log." "We ought sure of that," said Father Absinthe, in an tone. But companion cut short his desire for "You, my old friend," said he, "are going do me the kindness to keep perfectly still: pass me the lantern and do not modest tone had suddenly so imperious that colleague offer resistance. a soldier the command to halt, he remained erect, motionless, and mute, following colleague's movements with an inquisitive, wondering eye. Quick in his understanding to maneuvre the in accordance with his the police agent explored the a short A in of his prey would been less alert, less discerning, agile. He came and now retreating, now hurrying on again without any reason; he scrutinized, he questioned every surrounding the ground, the logs of wood, the blocks of stone, in a nothing escaped For a moment he would remain standing, then upon his knees, and times lie
. On several occasions
the lattEr had placeD his fOot ExaCtLy on The fOotprints left bY The tWo
women, half effacing theM, thus DiSPellINg All doUbt as to THe PREciSe
MoMenT oF HiS apprOacH.

About a Hundred yarDs fRoM the PoivrierE, leCoq suddenlY seIzed his
colleAguE's arm. "HAlT!" he EXclaiMed, "We havE reachED a good Place; I
can SeE UnmistAKable prOOFs."

the sPot, all unenclosed aS It WAs, was evidently UtilizEd BY sOME
buIldEr for the stOrAge of VArious kINdS OF LumBEr. The ground waS
strewn with LArgE blockS oF grANite, soMe chiSeLEd, sOme in the rouGh,
wiTh numerouS long pLAnks and LOgs of woOd in thEir MidSt. In FRoNt Of
oNe OF thESe LogS, The Surface oF wHiCh had Been EVIDEntlY wiPed, aLl
the Various footprIntS camE TogEther, MinglIng cOnFusedLy.

"Here," DeclaReD the young detectIve, "oUr fugitivEs mEt The MaN and
tOOk counSel WitH him. One Of the woMEn, tHe ONE WiTh the little feet,
sat DoWN UpOn this loG."

"We ougHT tO mAKe quite sUrE of That," SAId FatHer ABSiNthe, in an
OraculAR tOnE.

But his CoMpanioN cUt sHorT his dESire For verIficatioN. "You, mY Old
friend," said hE, "Are going to do mE ThE KInDNess To kEep perfectlY
stiLL: pasS me tHE lAntERn and Do not MoVE."

LECoq's modest tone had suDdEnly beCome sO imperious thaT his colleaGUE
Dared offEr no REsIStance. Like a solDier aT the commanD To halt,
he RemaiNed erect, MotionlesS, ANd mute, foLloWinG hiS coLLEaGue's
movements WITh an InQuisitiVe, wOnderinG eyE.

QuIck In hIs Motions, anD understAnDiNg HoW to ManeuVRe the lanTeRn
iN aCcoRdancE With hiS wishEs, thE yOuNG poLice ageNT eXPLoreD tHe
SurrOunDiNgs in A verY ShoRt space Of time. A blOodHOund In PuRsuit of
His prey would hAvE been less aLeRt, lEss disCERning, lesS agile. He
came and went, now tURning, noW paUsing, Now rEtreating, Now HurryiNg oN
Again wIthout Any apPaRenT REason; HE ScRutInIzed, he quesTIOneD everY
sUrroUnding oBject: the ground, the lOGs oF wood, the blockS of StonE,
IN a WorD, NoTHinG eSCapED His glance. For a moMent he woulD rEMaIn
standing, THen FaLl upon hIs knees, And at TImes lie
. On several occasions
the  latter ha d pla ced  hi sfoot  exa ctly on the fo o tpri nts left by the two
wo men,ha l f ef f ac ing t hem, th u sd i spe ll in g a ll do ubt a s t o the p recise
mom ent  o f his approa c h. 

About ahun dred yards f rom  the P oi vri e re, L eco q sud denlys eizedhis
colle ag u e's ar m . "Halt ! "  h e ex claimed, "we have re a ched a good pl ace; I 
c a ns e e u nmi stakable p ro ofs." 
The sp o t, a l l u n enclosed as i t was, wase vid entlyut ili z ed bysomebu i lde r for the s tora ge of var ious k i nds ofl umber.The gr oun d w as
s t re wn  wi th lar g eblo c ksof grani te ,somechis e l e d , so mein t he ro ugh,
with num ero us l o ngplank s and  log sof wo od intheir  m idst. In frontof
o ne of the selo gs,  t he su r face o f w hic h had b een evi d ent ly w i pe d, all
the various  f o o tp rints ca me tog e th er ,  minglin gcon fuse d l y.

" Here , "declared  the y o un gdetecti ve , "our  f ugi tiv es me t  the  man a nd
tookcouns e l with him. On e  of the women ,  t h e  o n e wi ththe littlefeet , 
sat  dow n  u pon thislog." 
" We ought to make quite  s ure of  that ," said Fathe r Absinthe , i n an
ora cula r  t o ne.

But his c ompan ion cut sh o rt his d esire  for ver ification . "You, my  ol d
f rie nd, " sa id he, "are g o i ng t odo me t hekindnes s t o k eep  pe rf ectly
sti ll: pass  m eth elan terna nd do no tmov e. "
Lecoq ' s mode st to ne h ad  s u dde nly bec o me s o im pe ri oustha this c olle a gue 
daredoffer nores i stan ce .Like asoldier at th ecommand to  h alt ,
he r e m ained er ect, motionless, and mu t e, foll owi ng hi s co lleague's 
mo vement s w i th aninquis itive ,won d e ringe y e. 

Q ui ck in hism o tio ns, a nd  und erstand ing how to maneuvr e  th e lantern
inacc orda n c ewit h  h i s w is h es, t he young police  agent exp lo r ed  the
surro u ndi ng s in avery sh ort s p ace oftime. A b loodhound  i n pu r s uit  of
his pr ey would  have bee n  less al ert,les s disc er nin g, le ss agi l e.He
ca me and  w ent, n ow tu rn ing, now  pausing, now retreatin g, now  hurr yin g on
agai n w i tho ut any ap pare nt reason;  he  sc rutin ize d , heques t io ned every 
sur r ounding o b je ct: t he  ground, th e l ogs  of w ood ,  the b lock s of stone,
in aw ord, nothing e scap e d  hi s g l ance .For a moment h e w ou l d  remainst anding, the n fall u po n  hisknees,  and a t times l ie 
. On_several occasions
the_latter had placed his_foot exactly_on_the footprints_left_by the two
women,_half effacing them,_thus dispelling all doubt_as to the_precise
moment_of his approach.

About a hundred yards from the Poivriere, Lecoq suddenly seized his
colleague's arm._"Halt!"_he exclaimed,_"we_have_reached a good place; I
can_see unmistakable proofs."

The spot, all_unenclosed as_it was, was evidently utilized by some
builder for_the_storage of various_kinds of lumber. The ground was
strewn with large blocks_of granite, some chiseled, some in_the rough,
with numerous_long_planks_and logs of wood_in their midst. In front of
one_of these logs, the surface of_which had been evidently wiped, all
the various_footprints came together, mingling confusedly.

"Here," declared_the young detective, "our fugitives_met the_man and
took counsel with him._One of the_women, the_one with the_little feet,
sat down upon this log."

"We_ought to make_quite sure of that," said Father_Absinthe,_in an
oracular tone.

But_his_companion_cut short_his desire for_verification._"You, my_old
friend,"_said he, "are going to do_me_the kindness to keep perfectly
still: pass me_the lantern and do_not_move."

Lecoq's modest tone had_suddenly become so imperious that_his colleague
dared offer no resistance. Like_a soldier_at the_command to halt,
he remained erect, motionless, and mute, following his colleague's
movements_with an inquisitive, wondering eye.

Quick in_his motions, and understanding_how to_maneuvre_the lantern
in accordance_with_his wishes,_the young police agent explored the
surroundings in_a very_short space of time. A bloodhound_in pursuit of
his prey_would_have been less alert, less discerning,_less agile. He
came and went, now_turning, now pausing, now retreating,_now_hurrying_on
again without any apparent reason;_he scrutinized, he questioned every
surrounding object:_the ground, the_logs of wood, the blocks of stone,
in_a_word, nothing escaped his glance. For_a_moment he would remain
standing, then fall_upon_his_knees, and at times lie