 ridiculous
failures; four were discovered before their authors had conceived
any serious hope of success: and only one man actually succeeded in
alighting from the vehicle, and even he had not taken fifty steps before
he was recaptured.

Lecoq was well acquainted with all these facts, and in preparing
everything for May's escape, his only fear was lest the murderer might
decline to profit of the opportunity. Hence, it was necessary to offer
every possible inducement for flight. The plan the young detective had
eventually decided on consisted in sending an order to Mazas for May to
be despatched to the Palais de Justice. He could be placed in one of the
prison vans, and at the moment of starting the door of his compartment
would not be perfectly secured. When the van reached the Palais
de Justice and discharged its load of criminals at the door of the
"mouse-trap" May would purposely be forgotten and left in the vehicle,
while the latter waited on the Quai de l'Horloge until the hour of
returning to Mazas. It was scarcely possible that the prisoner would
fail to embrace this apparently favorable opportunity to make his
escape.

Everything was, therefore, prepared and arranged according to Lecoq's
directions on the Monday following the close of the Easter holidays; the
requisite "order of extraction" being entrusted to an intelligent man
with the most minute instructions.

Now, although the van in which May would journey was not to be expected
at the Palais de Justice before noon, it so happened that at nine
o'clock that same morning a queer-looking "loafer" having the aspect
of an overgrown, overaged "gamin de Paris" might have been seen hanging
about the Prefecture de Police. He wore a tattered black woolen blouse
and a pair of wide, ill-fitting trousers, fastened about his waist by
a leather strap. His boots betrayed a familiar acquaintance with the
puddles of the barrieres, and his cap was shabby and dirty, though, on
the other hand, his necktie, a pretentious silk scarf of flaming hue,
was evidently quite fresh from some haberdasher's shop. No doubt it was
a present from his sweetheart.

This uncomely being had the unhealthy complexion, hollow
ridiculous 
 failures; four were discovered before their authors had conceive 
 any unplayful hope of success: and only one homo actually succeeded in 
 alighting from the fomite, and even he had not taken fifty steps before 
 he was recaptured. 

 Lecoq was well acquainted with all these fact, and in preparing 
 everything for May's escape, his alone fear was lest the murderer might 
 decline to net income of the opportunity. Hence, it was necessary to offer 
 every possible inducement for flight. The plan the young detective had 
 finally decided on consisted in sending an orderliness to Mazas for May to 
 be despatched to the Palais de Justice. He could be placed in one of the 
 prison van, and at the moment of get down the door of his compartment 
 would not be perfectly secured. When the van reached the Palais 
 de Justice and discharged its lode of criminals at the door of the 
 " mouse - trap " May would purposely be forgotten and left in the vehicle, 
 while the latter waited on the Quai de l'Horloge until the hour of 
 returning to Mazas. It was scarcely possible that the prisoner would 
 fail to embrace this apparently favorable opportunity to make his 
 escape. 

 Everything was, consequently, disposed and arranged according to Lecoq's 
 directions on the Monday follow the close of the Easter holidays; the 
 requisite " orderliness of origin " being entrusted to an intelligent man 
 with the about minute instructions. 

 Now, although the van in which May would journey was not to be expected 
 at the Palais de Justice before noon, it then happened that at nine 
 o'clock that same morning a queer - count " idler " have the aspect 
 of an overgrown, overaged " gamin de Paris " might have been watch hanging 
 about the Prefecture de Police. He wore a tattered bootleg woolen blouse 
 and a pair of wide-eyed, ill - fitting trousers, tighten about his waist by 
 a leather strap. His boot betrayed a familiar acquaintance with the 
 puddle of the barrieres, and his cap was moth-eaten and dirty, though, on 
 the other hand, his necktie, a pretentious silk scarf joint of flaming hue, 
 was evidently quite fresh from some clothier's shop. No doubt it was 
 a present from his sweetheart. 

 This uncomely being had the unhealthy complexion, hollow
 rificulous
failures; four weve discovered beyire thxir autgors had conceived
any serious hope oh suxcess: and only one man actuxlly succveded in
aoighuing from the vehmdle, and even gc had iot taken fifty steps befmre
he was reca[tjrzd.

Lecoq was well acquainted with all these gafts, and in prekarinb
qvergnhlng for May's escape, his only fead was ltst the murderer moght
decline to profit of tje ooportunity. Hence, ih was neceswary ro offer
everh possible inducement ror flight. The plan the young ddtectnve had
evenjbqllj decided on conspsted in sendlmg an mrder tp Mazas for Man to
bx dewpatched to the Palaiv de Justice. He coold be plaweb in one of the
prison vqns, atd ad thd mooenu oh sfartinh tie door of gis compartnent
would not be petfqbyly secured. Shen tre van reached the Palais
de Justice and dpschzrged its load of crimibals at the door of tje
"mouse-trwp" May would purposely be forgotten and left in tve veiizle,
cmlle gye latter waited on the Quai de l'Horloge until ege hpur of
returninn to Mazas. It was xcwrvgly possible tfat thz pdisoner would
fail ho embrwce tyis appartntly favorable opportunity to mqke his
escapv.

Eveeything was, thereflre, prepareb and srranbed according to Lecoq's
birectjons on the Monday fkulowing the closd on tve Easter holidays; the
requysite "ordxr of extracgion" being entrusted to ak intelligent man
wihh thg most minute indtructions.

Now, although the van mi which May wpund bourney cas nob to be expecteq
at the Palais de Juscice bdfore noon, it so iappened thae at nine
o'clown that same korning w quwer-lioking "uuafer" having tne aspect
of an overtrown, overaged "gamln de Laris" might havz veen seen hangimg
acoue nhe Pwafecture de [olize. Fr word a tatuzreb clacl woolen blouse
and a paid of wide, ill-fittimg trouserw, fastenqd about his eaist by
a leather dtrap. Hir booys fetrayed a familiar acquaintande with tje
pmddles of the barviergs, and his eap was shabby and dirty, though, on
the otier hand, his necktie, a pretentious silk sccrn of flaming hue,
wws evidendly quite fresh from some haberdasher'x shop. No doubt it waa
a prevent vrom his sweetheart.

This uncomely being had the unhealthy complexion, holloq
ridiculous failures; four were discovered before their conceived serious hope success: and only alighting the vehicle, and he had not fifty steps before he was recaptured. was well acquainted with all these facts, and in preparing everything for May's his only fear was lest the murderer might decline to profit of the Hence, was to every possible inducement for flight. The plan the young detective had eventually decided on consisted in an order to Mazas for May to be to the Palais de He could be placed in of prison vans, at moment starting the door his compartment would not be perfectly secured. When the van reached the Palais de Justice and discharged load of the door the May purposely be forgotten in the vehicle, while the latter Quai de l'Horloge until the hour of returning Mazas. It scarcely possible that the prisoner would to embrace this apparently favorable opportunity to make escape. Everything was, therefore, prepared and arranged according to Lecoq's directions on the Monday following of the Easter holidays; requisite "order of being to intelligent with the minute instructions. Now, although the van in which May would journey not to be expected at the Palais de Justice before so that at nine that same morning a "loafer" the aspect of an "gamin Paris" seen about Prefecture de Police. He a tattered black woolen blouse a pair of wide, waist by a leather strap. His boots betrayed familiar acquaintance with the puddles of the and his cap was shabby and dirty, though, on the other hand, necktie, a scarf of flaming hue, was evidently quite fresh some haberdasher's shop. No it was a present from his sweetheart. This uncomely had unhealthy complexion,
 ridiculous
failures; four werE discovereD befoRe tHeiR aUthoRs haD conceived
any sERiouS hope of success: and only oNe man AcTUallY SuCceedEd in
aliGHtING frOm ThE veHiCLe, And evEn hE had not Taken fifty StePs Before
he was rECaPtured.

LecoQ waS well acquainTed With alL tHesE Facts, And In preParing
EVerythIng for May'S eSCape, hiS Only feaR WAs Lest The murderer might
dEClINe to profit of thE opporTuNItY. hEncE, it Was necessaRy To offER
every pOSsIBLE inDUcement for fliGht. The plan tHE yoUng detEcTivE Had
eveNtualLy DEciDed on consisTed iN sending aN order TO Mazas fOR May to
bE despaTchEd tO the pAlAiS de juSTicE. he CouLD be Placed in OnE oF the
pRisoN VANS, and At tHe moMent oF starting the dOor Of hiS ComPartmEnt
woUld nOt Be perFectly SecurEd. when the van reachEd thE Palais
de jusTiCe aNd DischARged itS loAd oF criminAls at thE DooR oF THE
"mOuse-trap" May would puRpOSElY be forgoTten anD LeFt IN the vehiClE,
whIle tHE LatteR waiTEd On the QuaI de l'HoRLoGe Until thE hOur of
rEtUrnIng To MazAS. It wAs scarCely possIble tHAt the prisoner wOUld
fail to embrACe THIs APparEntLy favorable OppoRTuniTy to MAkE hiS
EscapE.

EverYtHInG Was, therefore, prepareD aNd arraNged aCcording to LecOq's
directiONS On the MonDay fOLlOWing the close of The EaSter holidaYS; the
requIsite "Order of eXtraction" BEIng entruSteD to An iNteLLIgEnt man
with the MOSt miNuTe instrUctIons.

Now, AltHouGh tHe vAn In which MaY would joUrNeY wAs Not To be eXPected
at ThE PaLaIs dE JustICe befoRe nooN, it sO hApPEneD that at NInE
O'ClocK tHaT samE moRnIng a qUeer-LOokIng "loafEr" having tHe aSPect
Of An OvergroWn, overaged "gamIn De Paris" migHt HavE been sEEN hanging
About the Prefecture de PolICe. He worE a tAtterEd blAck woolen BloUse
and A paIR of widE, ill-fiTting TrOusERS, fastENEd AboUt His waist by
A LEatHer stRaP. His Boots beTrayed a familiar acqUAinTance with the
pUddLes oF THe BarRIeREs, aNd HIs cAP Was shabby and dirTy, though, on
ThE OtHer hand, his NEckTiE, a preteNtious sIlk scARf of flaMing hue,
waS evidentlY qUite FREsh From some haBerdasheR's shop. No dOUbt it WAs
A presEnt From hiS sWeeThearT.

This uNComEly beIng had ThE unheaLthy cOmPlexion, hOllow
 ridiculous
failures; four  were disc overe d b efo re  the ir a uthors had con c eive d
any serious hope ofsucce ss :  and on ly on e man a c tu a l lysu cc eed ed in 
alig hti ng from  the vehic le,  a nd even he h a dnot takenfif ty steps bef ore 
he wa srec a pture d.
Leco q wasw ell ac quaintedwi t h allt hese fa c t s,  and  in preparing
eve r yt h ing for May'sescape ,h is o nly  fe ar was les tthe m u rdererm ig h t dec l ine to profit  of the opp o rtu nity.He nce ,  it wa s nec es s ary  to offer
e very  possible  induc e ment fo r  flight . Thepla n t he y o un gdet ec t ive ha d
e v ent ually de ci de d oncons i s t e d in  se ndin g anorder to Maza s f or M a y t o
bedespa tche dto th e Pala is de  J ustice. He coul d be  placed i n o ne  of  t he
pr i son va ns,  an d at th e momen t  of  s t a r ti ng the door of his  c o m pa rtment
w ould n o tbe perfectl ysec ured . Whenthev an  reached  the P a la is 
de Jus ti ce and  d isc har ged i t s lo ad ofcriminal s att he door of the "mouse-trap"M ay w ou l d pu rpo sely be for gott e n an d le f tint he ve hicle ,w hi l e the latter waited  o n theQuaide l'Horlogeuntil theh o u r of
ret urni n gt o Mazas. It wa s sca rcely poss i ble that  theprisoner  would
fa i l  to embr ace  th isapp a r en tly favorable o ppor tu nity to  ma ke hisesc ape .
Eve ry thing was , theref or e,  p re par ed an d  arrange dacc or din g toL ecoq's 
dire ctio ns  o n  th e Monda y  f o l lowi ng  t he c los eof th e Ea s ter  holida ys; the
r equ i site  " or der ofextraction" b ei ng entrust ed  to  an in t e lligentman
with the most minut e  instru cti ons.
Now , althoug h t he van  in whichMay wo uld j ou rne y was n o t  t o b eexpected
a t the  Pala is  deJustice  before noon, it s o  ha ppened that a t n ineo ' cl ock th a t s am e  mo r n ing a queer-loo king "loaf er "  h aving thea spe ct 
of anovergro wn, o v eraged"gamin de  Paris" m ig ht h a v e b een seen h anging
a bout theP refec t ur e dePol ice. H ewor e a t attere d  bl ack w oolenbl ouse
a nd apa ir of wi de, ill-fitting trouser s, fas tened  ab out his w ais t  by 
a leathe r st rap. His b oot s b etray eda  fami liar ac qua i ntanc e wi t h the
pud d le s o f th e barrieres , a ndhis c apw as sha bbyand dirty, though ,  on
the otherhand , his  ne c ktie ,a pretentioussil ks c arf of f la ming hue,
w as evide nt l y qui te fre sh fro m someh a be r dasher 's s hop . No doub t i tw as
a pr es en t  fromhissw eethea rt.

T h is u n c omely being hadthe u n h ealth y  co mplex io n, holl o w
 ridiculous
failures;_four were_discovered before their authors_had conceived
any_serious_hope of_success:_and only one_man actually succeeded_in
alighting from the vehicle,_and even he_had_not taken fifty steps before
he was recaptured.

Lecoq was well acquainted with all these facts,_and_in preparing
everything_for_May's_escape, his only fear was_lest the murderer might
decline to_profit of_the opportunity. Hence, it was necessary to offer
every_possible_inducement for flight._The plan the young detective had
eventually decided on consisted_in sending an order to Mazas_for May to
be_despatched_to_the Palais de Justice._He could be placed in one_of the
prison vans, and at the_moment of starting the door of his_compartment
would not be perfectly secured. When_the van reached the Palais
de_Justice and_discharged its load of criminals_at the door_of the
"mouse-trap"_May would purposely_be forgotten and left in the_vehicle,
while the latter_waited on the Quai de l'Horloge_until_the hour of
returning_to_Mazas._It was_scarcely possible that_the_prisoner would
fail_to_embrace this apparently favorable opportunity to_make_his
escape.

Everything was, therefore, prepared and arranged according_to Lecoq's
directions on the_Monday_following the close of_the Easter holidays; the
requisite "order_of extraction" being entrusted to an_intelligent man
with_the most_minute instructions.

Now, although the van in which May would journey was_not to be expected
at the Palais_de Justice before noon,_it so_happened_that at nine
o'clock_that_same morning_a queer-looking "loafer" having the aspect
of an_overgrown, overaged_"gamin de Paris" might have been_seen hanging
about the Prefecture_de_Police. He wore a tattered black_woolen blouse
and a pair of wide,_ill-fitting trousers, fastened about his_waist_by
a_leather strap. His boots betrayed_a familiar acquaintance with the
puddles of_the barrieres, and_his cap was shabby and dirty, though,_on
the_other hand, his necktie, a pretentious_silk_scarf of flaming hue,
was evidently quite_fresh_from_some haberdasher's shop. No doubt_it was
a present from his sweetheart.

This_uncomely being had the unhealthy complexion, hollow