pered with.
If he has returned from his promenade, make some excuse to have him sent
out of his cell again; and don't allow him to return there while we are
using his book."

"Oh, trust me!" replied the governor, hastily leaving the room.

Less than a quarter of an hour afterward he returned, carrying in
triumph a little volume in 32mo. With a trembling hand Lecoq turned to
page 235, and began to count. The fifteenth word on the page was
'I'; the third afterward, 'have'; the eighth following, 'told'; the
twenty-fifth, 'her'; the second, 'your'; the sixteenth, 'wishes.' Hence,
the meaning of those six numbers was: "I have told her your wishes."

The three persons who had witnessed this display of shrewdness could not
restrain their admiration. "Bravo! Lecoq," exclaimed the magistrate. "I
will no longer bet a hundred to one on May," thought the smiling clerk.

But Lecoq was still busily engaged in deciphering the missive, and soon,
in a voice trembling with gratified vanity, he read the entire note
aloud. It ran as follows: "I have told her your wishes; she submits. Our
safety is assured; we are waiting your orders to act. Hope! Courage!"




XIX

Yet what a disappointment it produced after the fever of anxiety and
expectation that had seized hold of everybody present. This strange
epistle furnished no clue whatever to the mystery; and the ray of hope
that had sparkled for an instant in M. Segmuller's eyes speedily faded
away. As for the versatile Goguet he returned with increased conviction
to his former opinion, that the prisoner had the advantage over his
accusers.

"How unfortunate," remarked the governor of the Depot, with a shade
of sarcasm in his voice, "that so much trouble, and such marvelous
penetration, should be wasted!"

"So you think, sir, that I have wasted my time!" rejoined Lecoq in a
tone of angry banter, a scarlet flush mantling at the same time over his
features. "Such is not my opinion. This scrap of paper undeniably
pered with. 
 If he has returned from his promenade, make some excuse to have him mail 
 out of his cellular telephone again; and don't allow him to return there while we are 
 use his script. " 

 " Oh, trust me! " replied the governor, hurriedly leaving the room. 

 Less than a quarter of an hour afterward he come back, carrying in 
 triumph a short volume in 32mo. With a trembling bridge player Lecoq turned to 
 page 235, and began to count. The fifteenth word on the page was 
' I'; the third afterward,' suffer'; the eighth following,' told'; the 
 twenty - fifth,' her'; the second,' your'; the sixteenth,' wishes.' therefore, 
 the meaning of those six numbers was: " I have told her your wish. " 

 The three persons who had witness this display of shrewdness could not 
 restrain their admiration. " Bravo! Lecoq, " exclaimed the magistrate. " I 
 will no longer bet a hundred to one on May, " thought the smile clerk. 

 But Lecoq was still busily engaged in deciphering the missive, and soon, 
 in a voice trembling with gratified vanity, he read the entire note 
 aloud. It ran as follows: " I have told her your wishes; she submits. Our 
 guard is assured; we are waiting your club to work. Hope! Courage! " 




 XIX 

 Yet what a disappointment it produced after the fever of anxiety and 
 expectation that had seized appreciation of everybody present. This foreign 
 epistle furnished no clue whatever to the mystery; and the ray of promise 
 that had sparkled for an instant in M. Segmuller's eyes speedily faded 
 away. As for the versatile Goguet he return with increased conviction 
 to his former opinion, that the prisoner had the advantage over his 
 accuser. 

 " How unfortunate, " comment the governor of the Depot, with a ghost 
 of sarcasm in his voice, " that so much trouble, and such marvelous 
 penetration, should be pine away! " 

 " So you think, sir, that I have wasted my meter! " rejoined Lecoq in a 
 tone of angry banter, a scarlet flush mantle at the same fourth dimension over his 
 features. " Such is not my opinion. This bit of paper undeniably
perfd with.
If he has returnea from his promgnqde, mane soms excuse to have him sent
out of his rell agaib; and don't allow him tu return nhere whioe wt are
using his book."

"Oh, trust me!" dcplieb vhe governor, haxtily leavhng the room.

Levs tkan a quarter of an hour afterward hq returmef, carrying in
ttiumpn a ljntoe volume in 32mo. With a trembljng hanv Lecoq turned yo
page 235, and began to count. The fifteenth word on the page wqs
'I'; eye third aftdrward, 'havt'; che eighth rollowing, 'told'; the
twenty-fifth, 'hdr'; thz second, 'yoox'; thf sixteenth, 'xishes.' Hence,
the meaning of those xix numbers wax: "I hace told her your wishxs."

The three persons rho had whtuessed this display od whrewgnesv cojod vot
dextdain tjeic admiratioh. "Bravo! Leciq," exclaimed the mabifntate. "I
will nk longqr bet a hundred to one on May," thought tht smiming clerk.

But Lecoq was still busily engaged in deciprering the missive, and soon,
in a voice trembling whth gcagifncq cajity, he read the entire note
aloud. It ran as fjmlpwx: "I have told mer your wishes; shr duniits. Our
safeti is assursd; we are waiting jour orqers ro act. Hoke! Coirage!"




XIX

Yet what a disappoibtment it prjeuced after the ferer of anxiecy and
gxpectstion that had seized huld kf everybodj present. Ghis strange
episgle fgrnished no clue whatever eo the mywterv; and thd rai of ho[e
that had sparkled for an instant in M. Sagmuller's fyes speedily faded
away. As for vie versatile Bocuen he retuxned wlth increased cjnviction
to hix formex opinkon, that tge prismner had thq advantage oegr his
accuserv.

"How unfjrtubate," remarkda the governor of the Dvpjt, wuth a shade
of sarcesm kh his voice, "thac wo much trouble, ana stcj kaweelous
penetrdtiov, sfpuld ce wasttb!"

"So hou yhink, sir, that I hava waated my time!" rejoimeq Lecoq un a
tone of angry banyer, a scarlet flusj manvling et the saie time over his
features. "Such js not my oplnion. This scwap if paper undzniably
pered with. If he has returned from make excuse to him sent out don't him to return while we are his book." "Oh, trust me!" replied governor, hastily leaving the room. Less than a quarter of an hour afterward returned, carrying in triumph a little volume in 32mo. With a trembling hand turned page and to count. The fifteenth word on the page was 'I'; the third afterward, 'have'; the eighth 'told'; the twenty-fifth, 'her'; the second, 'your'; the 'wishes.' Hence, the meaning those six numbers was: "I told your wishes." three who witnessed this display shrewdness could not restrain their admiration. "Bravo! Lecoq," exclaimed the magistrate. "I will no longer bet a to one thought the clerk. Lecoq still busily engaged the missive, and soon, in a gratified vanity, he read the entire note aloud. ran as "I have told her your wishes; submits. Our safety is assured; we are waiting orders to act. Hope! Courage!" XIX Yet what a disappointment it produced after the fever and expectation that had hold of everybody This epistle no whatever to mystery; and the ray of hope that had sparkled for an in M. Segmuller's eyes speedily faded away. As for the he with increased conviction his former opinion, that prisoner the advantage over his unfortunate," the Depot, a of sarcasm in his "that so much trouble, and marvelous penetration, should be that I have wasted my time!" rejoined Lecoq a tone of angry banter, a scarlet mantling at the same time over his features. "Such is not my This scrap undeniably
pered with.
If he has returned fRom his promEnade, MakE soMe ExcuSe to Have him sent
out OF his Cell again; and don't allow hIm to rEtURn thERe While We are
usINg HIS boOk."

"oh, TruSt ME!" rEplieD thE governOr, hastily lEavInG the room.

Less THaN a quarter oF an Hour afterwarD he ReturnEd, CarRYing iN
trIumph A littlE Volume In 32mo. With a TrEMbling HAnd LecoQ TUrNed tO
page 235, and began to coUNt. tHe fifteenth worD on the PaGE wAS
'i'; thE thIrd afterwaRd, 'Have'; tHE eighth FOlLOWIng, 'TOld'; the
twenty-fIfth, 'her'; the sEConD, 'your'; tHe SixTEenth, 'wIshes.' heNCe,
tHe meaning of ThosE six numbeRs was: "I HAve told HEr your wIshes."

THe tHreE perSOnS wHo hAd WItnESsEd tHIs dIsplay of ShReWdnesS couLD NOT
resTraIn thEir adMiration. "Bravo! lecOq," exCLaiMed thE magiStraTe. "i
will No longEr bet A hUndred to one on MaY," thoUght the smIliNg CleRk.

but LeCOq was sTilL buSily engAged in dECipHeRING tHe missive, and soon,
in A vOICe TremblinG with gRAtIfIEd vanity, He ReaD the ENTire nOte
aLOuD. It ran as FollowS: "i hAvE told heR yOur wisHeS; shE suBmits. oUr
saFety is Assured; wE are wAIting your orderS To act. Hope! CourAGe!"




xix

YET whaT a dIsappointmeNt it PRoduCed aFTeR thE Fever Of anxIeTY aND
expectation that had SeIzed hoLd of eVerybody preseNt. This straNGE
Epistle fUrniSHeD No clue whatever To the Mystery; and THe ray of hOpe
thAt had spaRkled for aN INstant in m. SeGmuLleR's eYES sPeedily faded
aWAY. As fOr The versAtiLe GogueT he RetUrnEd wItH increaseD convictIoN
tO hIs ForMer opINion, that ThE prIsOneR had tHE advanTage oVer hIs
AcCUseRs.

"How unFOrTUNate," ReMaRked The GoVernoR of tHE DePot, with A shade
of sArcASm in HiS vOice, "thaT so much troublE, aNd such marvElOus
PenetrATIon, shoulD be wasted!"

"So you think, sir, tHAt I have WasTed my Time!" Rejoined LEcoQ in a
toNe oF Angry bAnter, a ScarlEt FluSH MantlING aT thE sAme time oveR HIs
fEaturEs. "such Is not my Opinion. This scrap of PApeR undeniably
pered with.
If he has retu rned fromhis p rom ena de , ma ke s ome excuse toh avehim sent
out of his ce ll ag ai n ; an d  d on'tallow h i mt o  re tu rn  th er e  w hileweare
usi ng his boo k." 
"Oh, trust m e !"  replied t hegovernor, ha sti ly lea vi ngt he ro om. 

Les s than a quar ter of an  h o ur aft e rward h e re turn ed, carrying in
t r iu m ph a little vo lume i n3 2m o .  Wi tha tremblin ghandL ecoq tu r ne d t o
p a ge 235, and b egan to cou n t.The fi ft een t h word  on t he pag e was
'I';thethird aft erward ,  'have' ;  the ei ghth f oll owi ng,' to ld ';th e 
tw e nt y-f i fth , 'her';  t he  seco nd,' y o u r';the  six teent h, 'wishes.'Hen ce,t hemeani ng of  tho se  sixnumber s was :"I have told he r yo ur wishes ."
T heth ree p e rsonswho  ha d witne ssed th i s d is p l a yof shrewdness coul dn o trestrain  their ad mi r ation. " Br avo ! Le c o q," e xcla i me d the ma gistra t e.  " I
willno  longe rbet  ahundr e d to  one o n May,"thoug h t the smilingc lerk.

But Le c oq w as stil l b usily engag ed i n  dec iphe r in g t h e mis sive,  a n ds oon,
in a voice tre mb ling w ith g ratified vani ty, he rea d t he entir e no t ea loud. It ran a s fol lows: "I h a ve toldher y our wish es; she s u b mits. Ou r
s afe tyisa s su red; we are w a i ting  y our ord ers  to act . H ope ! C our ag e!"




X IX

Yetwh at  a  d isa ppoin t ment itpr odu ce d a ftert he fev er of  anx ie ty and 
expect a ti o n  tha tha d se ize dholdof e v ery body pr esent. Th iss tran ge 
e pistlefurnished nocl ue whateve rtothe my s t ery; and  the ray of hope
that h a d spark led  foran i nstant in  M.  Segmu lle r 's eye s spee dilyfa ded a way.A s  f orth e versatil e Gog uet h eretu rned wi th increased convi c tio n
to his form eropin i o n,  th a tt hepr i son e r  had the advant age over h is ac cusers.

" H owun fortuna te," re marke d  the go vernor of  the Depo t,  wit h a s hade
of sa rcasm in  his voic e , "th a tso mu chtroubl e,  an d suc h marv e lou s
pen etrati on , shou ld be  w asted!"
"So you think, sir, th at I h ave w ast ed my tim e!" rej oined Lec oq i n a
tone o f a ngr y ban ter ,  a sc arle t  f lus h  mant ling at the sa m etim e ov er his
feat u r e s."Such  is not my  opi nion. This scrapo f paper undeni ably 
pered with.
If_he has_returned from his promenade,_make some_excuse_to have_him_sent
out of his_cell again; and_don't allow him to_return there while_we_are
using his book."

"Oh, trust me!" replied the governor, hastily leaving the room.

Less than a_quarter_of an_hour_afterward_he returned, carrying in
triumph a_little volume in 32mo. With_a trembling_hand Lecoq turned to
page 235, and began to_count._The fifteenth word_on the page was
'I'; the third afterward, 'have'; the_eighth following, 'told'; the
twenty-fifth, 'her'; the_second, 'your'; the_sixteenth,_'wishes.'_Hence,
the meaning of those_six numbers was: "I have told_her your wishes."

The three persons who_had witnessed this display of shrewdness could_not
restrain their admiration. "Bravo! Lecoq," exclaimed_the magistrate. "I
will no longer_bet a_hundred to one on May,"_thought the smiling_clerk.

But Lecoq_was still busily_engaged in deciphering the missive, and_soon,
in a voice_trembling with gratified vanity, he read_the_entire note
aloud. It_ran_as_follows: "I_have told her_your_wishes; she_submits._Our
safety is assured; we are waiting_your_orders to act. Hope! Courage!"




XIX

Yet what a_disappointment it produced after_the_fever of anxiety and
expectation_that had seized hold of_everybody present. This strange
epistle furnished no_clue whatever_to the_mystery; and the ray of hope
that had sparkled for an instant_in M. Segmuller's eyes speedily faded
away._As for the versatile_Goguet he_returned_with increased conviction
to_his_former opinion,_that the prisoner had the advantage over_his
accusers.

"How unfortunate,"_remarked the governor of the Depot,_with a shade
of sarcasm_in_his voice, "that so much trouble,_and such marvelous
penetration, should be wasted!"

"So_you think, sir, that I_have_wasted_my time!" rejoined Lecoq in_a
tone of angry banter, a scarlet_flush mantling at_the same time over his
features. "Such is_not_my opinion. This scrap of paper_undeniably