
could scarcely restrain those movements of angry impatience which come
naturally to a person who feels certain he is in the right and yet can
not prove it.

"Ah, me!" sometimes exclaimed the magistrate, "why did D'Escorval break
his leg? Had it not been for that cursed mishap, he would have been
obliged to endure all these perplexities, and I--I should be enjoying
myself like other people."

"And I thought myself so shrewd!" murmured the young detective by his
side.

Little by little anxiety did its work. Magistrate and detective both
lost their appetites and looked haggard; and yet the idea of yielding
never once occurred to them. Although of very different natures,
they were both determined to persevere in the task they had set
themselves--that of solving this tantalizing enigma. Lecoq, indeed,
had resolved to renounce all other claims upon his time, and to devote
himself entirely to the study of the case. "Henceforth," he said to M.
Segmuller, "I also will constitute myself a prisoner; and although the
suspected murderer will be unable to see me, I shall not lose sight of
him!"

It so happened that there was a loft between the cell occupied by May
and the roof of the prison, a loft of such diminutive proportions that
a man of average height could not stand upright in it. This loft had
neither window nor skylight, and the gloom would have been intense,
had not a few faint sun-rays struggled through the interstices of
some ill-adjusted tiles. In this unattractive garret Lecoq established
himself one fine morning, just at the hour when May was taking his daily
walk in the courtyard of the prison accompanied by a couple of keepers.
Under these circumstances there was no fear of Lecoq's movements
attracting the prisoner's notice or suspicion. The garret had a paved
floor, and first of all the young detective removed one of the stones
with a pickax he had brought for the purpose. Beneath this stone he
found a timber beam, through which he next proceeded to bore a hole of
funnel shape, large at the top and gradually dwindling until on piercing
the ceiling of the cell it was no more than
could scarcely restrain those movements of angry impatience which hail 
 naturally to a person who feel certain he is in the right and yet can 
 not test it. 

 " Ah, me! " sometimes exclaimed the magistrate, " why did D'Escorval break 
 his branch? Had it not been for that cursed mishap, he would have been 
 obliged to digest all these perplexities, and I -- I should be enjoying 
 myself like early people. " 

 " And I thought myself so shrewd! " murmur the young detective by his 
 side. 

 Little by little anxiety did its employment. Magistrate and detective both 
 lost their appetites and looked bony; and yet the idea of yielding 
 never once occurred to them. Although of very unlike natures, 
 they were both compulsive to persevere in the task they had set 
 themselves -- that of solving this tantalizing enigma. Lecoq, indeed, 
 had conclude to renounce all other claims upon his time, and to devote 
 himself wholly to the survey of the case. " Henceforth, " he said to M. 
 Segmuller, " I also will constitute myself a prisoner; and although the 
 suspected murderer will be unable to see me, I shall not lose sight of 
 him! " 

 It thus happened that there was a loft between the cellular telephone occupy by May 
 and the ceiling of the prison, a loft of such diminutive proportions that 
 a man of average height could not stand upright in it. This loft had 
 neither windowpane nor skylight, and the gloom would have been intense, 
 had not a few faint sun - rays struggled through the interstices of 
 some ill - adjusted tiles. In this unattractive garret Lecoq established 
 himself one fine morning, barely at the hour when May was taking his casual 
 base on balls in the courtyard of the prison accompanied by a couple of keepers. 
 Under these circumstances there constitute no fear of Lecoq's movements 
 attracting the prisoner's notification or suspicion. The garret had a paved 
 floor, and first of all the youthful detective removed one of the stones 
 with a pick he had brought for the purpose. Beneath this stone he 
 found a lumber beam, through which he next go to bore a hole of 
 funnel supreme headquarters allied powers europe, large at the peak and gradually dwindling until on pierce 
 the ceiling of the cell it was no more than

coupd scarcely restrain thore movements of angry mmpatiehce whicf come
naturally to a person xho deels certain he is in the fight and yet can
bot krove it.

"Ah, me!" somxfimes ewelaimsf thz nagistrate, "why did D'Escosval break
his nee? Kad it not been for that cursed mishwp, he wpupd have been
objigec to sndure all these perplexities, and J--I shound be enjoyinb
myself like other people."

"Ajd I thought myself so shrewd!" murnureq the young ddtective bj his
side.

Lijtle by little anxiety did its wurk. Mcgistrate abd dehgctive both
list treir appetitcx and nooked naggard; and yeb the idwa of yielding
never oice occurred to them. Although oy very different natueew,
they wera bogy ddtedmmnes to pfrsxvere in ths task they had set
themselves--tnae of solving tgis tagtwlizing enigma. Lecoq, indeed,
had resolved to renounce all other claums upon his time, and to devotq
himself entirely to the study of the case. "Hencefmrth," ie sane to O.
Wehmuller, "I also will constitute myself a prisogsr; akd although the
smspected murderer eipl fe unable to ree me, I ahall not lose sigjt of
hii!"

It si happeneq thst there was a loft between the cell ocbupiwd by May
and the rlof of the 'rison, a logt of such diminutive pxoportjons that
a lan of avsfage height coula npt stand ukfight in it. This joft had
nxithex window nor skylidht, and thf gloom would have been lntende,
vad not a vew faint sun-rays struggled through the interxthcev of
some ill-acjusted tiles. In this unatttactive gcrret Uecoq estaglished
iimself one sine morning, bost at the honr when Mwy wqs tqking hkr daily
walk in the cournycrd of thw prison accompanicd by z couple of kee'trs.
Obder these cirvumrtagcvs vhere fas no fear mf Ldcod'x movdments
aucragtivg tne prisoner's notice mr shspicion. The garrey mad a pavgd
floor, agd first of akl the young detecuive rxmoved one pf jhe stones
with a pickax he had grought flr bhe purpose. Bqneabh tris stone ke
found a timber beam, through which he nxxt proceeded to bore a hole of
funnel shapg, lsrge at the top wnd gradudlly dwindling until on piercing
the ctiling of the cell it wzs no kore hhan
could scarcely restrain those movements of angry come to a who feels certain and can not prove "Ah, me!" sometimes the magistrate, "why did D'Escorval break leg? Had it not been for that cursed mishap, he would have been to endure all these perplexities, and I--I should be enjoying myself like other "And thought so murmured the young detective by his side. Little by little anxiety did its work. Magistrate and both lost their appetites and looked haggard; and the idea of yielding once occurred to them. Although very natures, they both to in the task had set themselves--that of solving this tantalizing enigma. Lecoq, indeed, had resolved to renounce all other claims his time, devote himself to study the case. "Henceforth," to M. Segmuller, "I also will prisoner; and although the suspected murderer will be to see I shall not lose sight of It so happened that there was a loft the cell occupied by May and the roof of the prison, a loft of such that a man of height could not upright it. loft neither window skylight, and the gloom would have been intense, had not a faint sun-rays struggled through the interstices of some ill-adjusted tiles. unattractive Lecoq established himself fine morning, just at hour May was taking his in courtyard accompanied a of keepers. Under these there was no fear of movements attracting the prisoner's had a paved floor, and first of all young detective removed one of the stones a pickax he had brought for the purpose. Beneath this stone he a timber which he next proceeded to bore a hole funnel shape, large at top and gradually dwindling until on piercing the ceiling the it was more than

could scarcely restrain thosE movements Of angRy iMpaTiEnce WhicH come
naturally TO a peRson who feels certain he iS in thE rIGht aND yEt can
Not provE It.

"aH, Me!" sOmEtImeS eXClAimed The MagistrAte, "why did D'escOrVal break
his lEG? HAd it not beeN foR that cursed mIshAp, he woUlD haVE been
OblIged tO endurE All theSe perplexItIEs, and I--i Should bE ENjOyinG
myself like other pEOpLE."

"And I thought mySelf so ShREwD!" MUrmUreD the young dEtEctivE By his
siDE.

LITTLe bY Little anxiety Did its work. MAGisTrate aNd DetECtive bOth
loSt THeiR appetites aNd loOked haggaRd; and yET the ideA Of yieldIng
nevEr oNce OccuRReD tO thEm. aLthOUgH of VEry DifferenT nAtUres,
tHey wERE BOth dEteRminEd to pErsevere in the TasK theY Had Set
thEmselVes--tHaT of soLving tHis taNtAlizing enigma. LeCoq, iNdeed,
had rEsoLvEd tO rEnounCE all otHer ClaIms upon His time, ANd tO dEVOTe
Himself entirely to tHe STUdY of the caSe. "HencEFoRtH," He said to m.
SEgmUlleR, "i Also wIll cONsTitute mySelf a pRIsOnEr; and alThOugh thE
sUspEctEd murDErer Will be Unable to See me, i Shall not lose siGHt of
him!"

It so haPPeNED tHAt thEre Was a loft betWeen THe ceLl ocCUpIed BY May
aNd the RoOF oF The prison, a loft of sucH dIminutIve prOportions that
A man of averAGE Height coUld nOT sTAnd upright in it. this lOft had
neitHEr window Nor skYlight, anD the gloom WOUld have bEen IntEnsE,
haD NOt A few faint sun-rAYS strUgGled thrOugH the intErsTicEs oF
soMe Ill-adjustEd tiles. IN tHiS uNaTtrActivE Garret LeCoQ esTaBliShed
hIMself oNe finE morNiNg, JUst At the hoUR wHEN May WaS tAkinG hiS dAily
wAlk iN The CourtyaRd of the prIsoN AccoMpAnIed by a cOuple of keeperS.
UNder these cIrCumStanceS THere was nO fear of Lecoq's movements
aTTractinG thE prisOner'S notice or SusPicion. the GArret hAd a pavEd
floOr, And FIRst of ALL tHe yOuNg detectivE REmoVed onE oF the Stones
wIth a pickax he had broUGht For the purpose. benEath THIs StoNE hE
FouNd A TimBER beam, through whiCh he next prOcEEdEd to bore a hOLe oF
fUnnel shApe, largE at thE Top and gRadually dWindling uNtIl on PIErcIng
the ceilIng of the Cell it was NO more THaN

could scarcely restrain t hose movem entsofang ry  imp atie nce which come natu rally to a person whofeels  c e rtai n  h e isin ther ig h t  an dye t c an no t pro veit.

"A h, me!" so met im es exclaimed th e magistra te,  "why did D' Esc orvalbr eak his l eg?  Hadit not been f or that c ur s ed mis h ap, hew o ul d ha ve been
obliged t o  e n dure all these  perpl ex i ti e s , a ndI--I shoul dbe en j oying
m y se l f lik e  other people ."

"And It hou ght my se lfs o shre wd!"mu r mur ed the youn g de tective b y hiss ide.

L i ttle by  littl e a nxi etyd id  i tswo r k.M ag ist r ate  and det ec ti ve bo th
l o s t thei r a ppet itesand looked ha gga rd;a ndyet t he id ea o fyield ing
ne ver o nc e occurred to t hem.  Although  of  v ery  d iffer e nt nat ure s,they we re both det er m i n ed  to persevere in t he t as k they h ad set th em s elves--t ha t o f so l v ing t hist an talizing  enigm a .Le coq, in de ed,
ha dres olv ed to reno unce a ll other  clai m s upon his tim e , and to devo t eh i ms e lf e nti rely to the  stu d y of  the ca se. "Henc efort h, "  h e  said to M.
Segmull er , "I a lso w ill constitut e myself a p r isoner;anda lt h ough the
suspe ctedmurderer w i ll be un ableto see m e, I shal l not lose  si ght  of 
hi m ! "
It so happen e d  tha tthere w asa loftbet wee n t hece ll occupi ed by Ma yan dth e r oof o f  the pri so n,alof t ofs uch di minut ivepr op o rti ons tha t 
a m an o fav erag e h ei ght c ould not  standupright i n i t . Th is  l oft had 
neither wind ow  nor skyli gh t,and th e gloom wo uld have been intense,h ad nota f ew fa intsun-raysstr uggled  th r ough t he int ersti ce s o f somei l l- adj us ted tiles. I n t his u na ttra ctive g arret Lecoq establ i she d
himself one  fi ne m o r ni ng, ju s t a tt heh o ur when May was  taking hi sd ai ly
walk in the  c ourtyar d of th e pri s on acco mpanied b y a coupl eof k e e per s.
Under t hese cir cumstance s  ther e  w as no  fe ar ofLe coq 's mo vement s 
at tract ing th eprison er'sno tice orsuspicion. The garret h ad a p avedflo or, and f irs t  of  all theyoun g detectiv e r emo ved o neo f the  sto n es 
wi t h a p icka x  he had b r ou ght f or  the purpos e . Ben eaththi s  stone  hefound a timber be a m, through whi ch h e nex t p r ocee de d to bore a ho leof f unnel sh ap e, large at  the top  a n d gra dually  dwind ling un t i lo n pier cing 
th e ceiling  of  t h e cellit  w a s no m oreth an

could scarcely_restrain those_movements of angry impatience_which come
naturally_to_a person_who_feels certain he_is in the_right and yet can
not_prove it.

"Ah, me!"_sometimes_exclaimed the magistrate, "why did D'Escorval break
his leg? Had it not been for that_cursed_mishap, he_would_have_been
obliged to endure all these_perplexities, and I--I should be_enjoying
myself like_other people."

"And I thought myself so shrewd!" murmured_the_young detective by_his
side.

Little by little anxiety did its work. Magistrate and_detective both
lost their appetites and looked_haggard; and yet_the_idea_of yielding
never once occurred_to them. Although of very different_natures,
they were both determined to persevere_in the task they had set
themselves--that of_solving this tantalizing enigma. Lecoq, indeed,
had_resolved to renounce all other_claims upon_his time, and to devote
himself_entirely to the_study of_the case. "Henceforth,"_he said to M.
Segmuller, "I also_will constitute myself_a prisoner; and although the
suspected murderer_will_be unable to_see_me,_I shall_not lose sight_of
him!"

It_so happened_that_there was a loft between the_cell_occupied by May
and the roof of the_prison, a loft of_such_diminutive proportions that
a man_of average height could not_stand upright in it. This loft_had
neither window_nor skylight,_and the gloom would have been intense,
had not a few faint_sun-rays struggled through the interstices of
some_ill-adjusted tiles. In this_unattractive garret_Lecoq_established
himself one fine_morning,_just at_the hour when May was taking his_daily
walk in_the courtyard of the prison accompanied_by a couple of_keepers.
Under_these circumstances there was no fear_of Lecoq's movements
attracting the prisoner's notice_or suspicion. The garret had_a_paved
floor,_and first of all the_young detective removed one of the_stones
with a pickax_he had brought for the purpose. Beneath_this_stone he
found a timber beam, through_which_he next proceeded to bore a_hole_of
funnel_shape, large at the top_and gradually dwindling until on piercing
the_ceiling of the cell it was no more than