 outstretched
neck and listening ears, when, on reaching this spot, he heard some
noise, fear seized him, and he fled."

"Or rather, the women were going out as he was coming, and--"

"No, the women were outside the garden when he entered it."

This assertion seemed far too audacious to suit Lecoq's companion, who
remarked: "One can not be sure of that."

"I am sure of it, however; and can prove it conclusively. If you doubt
it, it is because your eyes are growing old. Bring your lantern a little
nearer--yes, here it is--our man placed his large foot upon one of the
marks made by the woman with the small foot and almost effaced it."
This unexceptionable piece of circumstantial evidence stupefied the old
police agent.

"Now," continued Lecoq, "could this man have been the accomplice whom
the murderer was expecting? Might it not have been some strolling
vagrant whose attention was attracted by the two pistol shots? This is
what we must ascertain. And we will ascertain it. Come!"

A wooden fence of lattice-work, rather more than three feet high,
was all that separated the Widow Chupin's garden from the waste land
surrounding it. When Lecoq made the circuit of the house to cut off the
murderer's escape he had encountered this obstacle, and, fearing lest he
should arrive too late, he had leaped the fence to the great detriment
of his pantaloons, without even asking himself if there was a gate or
not. There was one, however--a light gate of lattice-work similar to the
fence, turning upon iron hinges, and closed by a wooden button. Now it
was straight toward this gate that these footprints in the snow led the
two police agents. Some new thought must have struck the younger man,
for he suddenly paused. "Ah!" he murmured, "these two women did not come
to the Poivriere this evening for the first time."

"Why do you think that, my boy?" inquired Father Absinthe.

"I could almost swear it. How, unless they were in the habit of coming
to this den, could they have been aware of the existence of this
outstretched 
 neck and listening ears, when, on reaching this spot, he heard some 
 randomness, concern grab him, and he fled. " 

 " Or preferably, the woman were going out as he was coming, and-- " 

 " nobelium, the women were outside the garden when he entered it. " 

 This assertion look far too audacious to suit Lecoq's companion, who 
 comment: " One cannot be sure of that. " 

 " I am sure of it, however; and can test it conclusively. If you doubt 
 it, it is because your center are growing previous. Bring your lantern a little 
 nearer -- yes, here it is -- our serviceman placed his large foot upon one of the 
 mark made by the woman with the small foot and about effaced it. " 
 This unexceptionable objet d'art of circumstantial evidence stupefied the old 
 police agent. 

 " nowadays, " continued Lecoq, " could this man have been the accomplice whom 
 the murderer was expecting? Might it not have been some strolling 
 vagrant whose attention was attracted by the two pistol shots? This is 
 what we must ascertain. And we will ascertain it. Come! " 

 A wooden fence of lattice - work, rather more than three feet high, 
 was all that separated the Widow Chupin's garden from the waste domain 
 surrounding it. When Lecoq made the lap of the family to cut off the 
 murderer's escape he had encountered this obstacle, and, fear lest he 
 should arrive excessively late, he had leaped the fence to the big detriment 
 of his pantaloons, without even asking himself if there was a gate or 
 not. There was one, however -- a light gate of lattice - study similar to the 
 fence, turning upon iron hinges, and closed by a wooden release. Now it 
 was directly toward this gate that these footprints in the snow led the 
 two police agents. Some new opinion must have struck the younger man, 
 for he abruptly paused. " Ah! " he murmured, " these two women did not come 
 to the Poivriere this evening for the beginning time. " 

 " Why do you intend that, my boy? " inquired Father Absinthe. 

 " I could about swear it. How, unless they were in the habit of coming 
 to this den, could they have been mindful of the existence of this
 ouhstretched
neck and listeking ears, when, ou reachmng thia spot, hd heard some
noise, fear seizev hin, and he fled."

"Or rather, the domen werv going oyt aw he was coming, and--"

"Kj, ths womzn were outside jhe garden wven he entered ig."

Tkis assertion seemed far too audaciots to siih Lecoq's compagion, rho
rsmarked: "One can not be sure of thaf."

"I am slre of it, however; and can prove it conclusigely. If you doubt
it, it is because youw eyes are gruwing old. Bring your lzntern a little
nearer--yes, here ig is--obr man placgb hid large foot upon one of the
marks mada by thr woman with tme smell doot and almost effacxd it."
This unexceptiogable piewe of circumstantiao wvidetce vtupddiea tge omd
polife egent.

"Now," cohtinued Leciq, "could this man hsvq been the acckmplicq rhom
the murderer was expecting? Might it nof have been some strollung
vagrant whose attejtion was attracted by the two pistol shots? This is
what we must xsctrbwkb. Wnd we will ascertain it. Come!"

A wooden fence os lstnice-work, rather mjre than thtef gget high,
was alu that selarated the Widow Fhupin's gardwn from tre wsste land
surrounding it. Wheb Lecoq made rhe circuit of the house to cbt off the
mirderer's escape he had zncounfered this lbstacle, zvd, fearing lest fe
smound arrivt too late, he had jeaped thx fenee to thd grgat detwiment
of hls pakdaloons, without evfn asnitg himself if there was a gate or
not. Therx was one, howgves--a night gace of kattice-work symilar to the
fgnce, turnnng upun iron hihges, anv closed by w wooden buttmj. Now it
was vtraight towqrd rhis gagd that these fpotprints in the sniw led the
two polige aggnfs. Some new thobyhu nust have struvk ghe yluiger idn,
for he sudgenlh pxised. "Xh!" he murmuved, "thexe two women did not coms
to the Poivriere yhls evenint for thq first time."

"Wny do you think thwt, my bob?" inquoreq Father Absinthe.

"I could almosf swear ih. Hjw, unless thqy wcre yn the habnt of coming
to this den, could they have ueen aware of the exisjence of this
outstretched neck and listening ears, when, on spot, heard some fear seized him, the were going out he was coming, "No, the women were outside the when he entered it." This assertion seemed far too audacious to suit Lecoq's who remarked: "One can not be sure of that." "I am sure of however; can it If you doubt it, it is because your eyes are growing old. Bring your lantern a nearer--yes, here it is--our man placed his large upon one of the made by the woman with small and almost it." unexceptionable of circumstantial evidence the old police agent. "Now," continued Lecoq, "could this man have been the accomplice whom the murderer expecting? Might have been strolling whose was attracted by pistol shots? This is what we we will ascertain it. Come!" A wooden fence lattice-work, rather than three feet high, was all separated the Widow Chupin's garden from the waste surrounding it. When Lecoq made the circuit of the house to cut off the murderer's had encountered this obstacle, fearing lest he arrive late, had the fence the great detriment of his pantaloons, without even asking himself if was a gate or not. There was one, however--a light lattice-work to the fence, upon iron hinges, and by wooden button. Now it toward gate in snow the two police agents. new thought must have struck younger man, for he "these two women did not come to the this evening for the first time." "Why you think that, my boy?" inquired Father Absinthe. "I could almost swear How, unless in the habit of coming to this den, they have been aware the existence of this
 outstretched
neck and listenIng ears, wheN, on reAchIng ThIs spOt, he Heard some
noise, FEar sEized him, and he fled."

"Or ratHer, thE wOMen wERe Going Out as he WAs COMinG, aNd--"

"no, tHe WOmEn werE ouTside thE garden wheN he EnTered it."

This aSSeRtion seemeD faR too audaciouS to Suit LeCoQ's cOMpaniOn, wHo
remArked: "ONE can noT be sure of ThAT."

"I am suRE of it, hoWEVeR; and Can prove it conclusIVeLY. If you doubt
it, iT is becAuSE yOUR eyEs aRe growing oLd. bring YOur lantERn A LITtlE
Nearer--yes, here It is--our man pLAceD his laRgE foOT upon oNe of tHe
MArkS made by the wOman With the smAll fooT And almoST effaceD it."
ThiS unExcEptiONaBlE piEcE Of cIRcUmsTAntIal evideNcE sTupefIed tHE OLD
polIce AgenT.

"Now," cOntinued Lecoq, "CouLd thIS maN have Been tHe acCoMplicE whom
tHe murDeRer was expecting? mighT it not havE beEn SomE sTrollINg
vagrAnt WhoSe attenTion was ATtrAcTED By The two pistol shots? THiS IS
wHat we musT ascerTAiN. AND we will aScErtAin iT. cOme!"

A wOodeN FeNce of latTice-woRK, rAtHer more ThAn threE fEet HigH,
was aLL thaT separAted the WIdow CHUpin's garden froM The waste land
sURrOUNdINg it. wheN Lecoq made tHe ciRCuit Of thE HoUse TO cut oFf the
MuRDeREr's escape he had encouNtEred thIs obsTacle, and, feariNg lest he
shOULD arrive tOo laTE, hE Had leaped the feNce to The great deTRiment
of His paNtaloons, Without evEN Asking hiMseLf iF thEre WAS a Gate or
not. TherE WAs onE, hOwever--a LigHt gate oF laTtiCe-wOrk SiMilar to thE
fence, tuRnInG uPoN irOn hinGEs, and cloSeD by A wOodEn butTOn. Now iT
was sTraiGhT tOWarD this gaTE tHAT theSe FoOtprIntS iN the sNow lED thE
two polIce agents. somE New tHoUgHt must hAve struck the yOuNger man,
for He SudDenly pAUSed. "Ah!" he mUrmured, "these two women did NOt come
tO thE PoivRierE this evenIng For the FirST time."

"WHy do yoU thinK tHat, MY Boy?" inQUIrEd FAtHer AbsinthE.

"i CouLd almOsT sweAr it. How, Unless they were in thE HabIt of coming
to tHis Den, cOULd TheY HaVE beEn AWarE OF the existence of This
 outstretched
neck and lis tening ear s, wh en,  on  r each ingthis spot, heh eard  some
noise, fear seiz ed hi m, andh efled. "

"Orr at h e r,th ewom en we re go ing  out as  he was co min g,  and--"

"No ,  t he women w ere  outside the  ga rden w he n h e  ente red  it." 

This assert ion seeme df ar too audacio u s  t o su it Lecoq's compan i on ,  who
remarked:  "Oneca n  n o t  be  su re of that ." 

"Ia m sureo fi t ,  ho w ever; and can  prove it c o ncl usivel y.  If you do ubt
i t, itis becauseyour  eyes are  growi n g old.B ring yo ur lan ter n a  lit t le 
n ear er - -ye s ,her e  it  is--our  m an  plac ed h i s l arge  fo ot u pon o ne of the
mar ksmade bythe w omanwith  t he sm all fo ot an dalmost effacedit." 
This une xce pt ion ab le pi e ce ofcir cum stantia l evide n cest u p e fi ed the old
policeag e n t. 

"Now,"  conti n ue dL ecoq, "c ou ldthis m an ha ve b e en  the acc omplic e  w ho m
the m ur dererwa s e xpe cting ?  Mig ht itnot have  been some strolling vagrant whose at t e nt i on w asattracted b y th e  two  pis t ol  sh o ts? T his i sw ha t  we must ascertain.  A nd wewillascertain it.  Come!"

A w o oden fen ce o f  l a ttice-work, ra thermore thant hree fee t hig h,
was a ll that s e p arated t heWid owChu p i n' s garden from t he w as te land 
su rroundi ngit.  Wh enLe coq madethe circ ui tof  t hehouse to cut o ff  th emur derer ' s esca pe he  had  e nc o unt ered th i so b stac le ,and,  fe ar ing l esth e
s hould a rrive too  la t e, h eha d leape d the fence t othe greatde tri ment
o f his pant aloons, without even as k ing him sel f ifther e was a g ate  or
no t.T here w as one , how ev er- - a  ligh t ga teof  lattice-w o r k s imila rto t he
fenc e, turning upon ir o n h inges, and cl ose d by a  w ood e nb utt on .  No w it
was straight  toward th is ga te that th e sefo otprint s in th e sno w  led th e
two pol ice agent s.  Som e new  thought m ust have  struck t h e you n ge r man ,
f or hesu dde nly p aused. "Ah !" he  murmu re d, "th ese t wo  women d id not come
to the Poiv rierethiseve ning forthe fir st time." 

"W hy do youthi nkthat,  my boy?"  inq u ir edF ather  Abs i nthe.

"I co uld a lm ost swear i t . How , unl ess they w erein the habit of c o ming
to this d en,c o uld  th e y ha ve  been aware of  th ee x istenceof  this
 outstretched
neck_and listening_ears, when, on reaching_this spot,_he_heard some
noise,_fear_seized him, and_he fled."

"Or rather,_the women were going_out as he_was_coming, and--"

"No, the women were outside the garden when he entered it."

This assertion seemed_far_too audacious_to_suit_Lecoq's companion, who
remarked: "One can_not be sure of that."

"I_am sure_of it, however; and can prove it conclusively._If_you doubt
it, it_is because your eyes are growing old. Bring your_lantern a little
nearer--yes, here it is--our_man placed his_large_foot_upon one of the
marks_made by the woman with the_small foot and almost effaced it."
This_unexceptionable piece of circumstantial evidence stupefied the_old
police agent.

"Now," continued Lecoq, "could this_man have been the accomplice_whom
the murderer_was expecting? Might it not_have been some_strolling
vagrant whose_attention was attracted_by the two pistol shots? This_is
what we must_ascertain. And we will ascertain it._Come!"

A_wooden fence of_lattice-work,_rather_more than_three feet high,
was_all_that separated_the_Widow Chupin's garden from the waste_land
surrounding_it. When Lecoq made the circuit of_the house to cut_off_the
murderer's escape he had_encountered this obstacle, and, fearing_lest he
should arrive too late, he_had leaped_the fence_to the great detriment
of his pantaloons, without even asking himself if_there was a gate or
not. There_was one, however--a light_gate of_lattice-work_similar to the
fence,_turning_upon iron_hinges, and closed by a wooden button._Now it
was_straight toward this gate that these_footprints in the snow_led_the
two police agents. Some new thought_must have struck the younger man,
for_he suddenly paused. "Ah!" he_murmured,_"these_two women did not come
to_the Poivriere this evening for the_first time."

"Why do_you think that, my boy?" inquired Father_Absinthe.

"I_could almost swear it. How, unless_they_were in the habit of coming
to_this_den,_could they have been aware_of the existence of this