 he poured out a glass, and
drained it at a single draft.

"Will you have some?" he inquired of his companion. "It is not a very
famous brand, to be sure; but it is just as good, it makes one's blood
circulate and enlivens one."

Lecoq refused; he did not need to be enlivened. All his faculties were
hard at work. He intended that, after a single perusal of his report,
the investigating magistrate should say: "Let the officer who drew up
this document be sent for." It must be remembered that Lecoq's future
depended upon such an order. Accordingly, he took particular care to be
brief, clear, and concise, to plainly indicate how his suspicions on the
subject of the murder had been aroused, how they had increased, and how
they had been confirmed. He explained by what series of deductions he
had succeeded in establishing a theory which, if it was not the
truth, was at least plausible enough to serve as the basis for further
investigation.

Then he enumerated the articles of conviction ranged on the table before
him. There were the flakes of brown wool collected upon the plank, the
valuable earring, the models of the different footprints in the garden,
and the Widow Chupin's apron with its pockets turned inside out. There
was also the murderer's revolver, with two barrels discharged and three
still loaded. This weapon, although not of an ornamental character, was
still a specimen of highly finished workmanship. It bore the name of one
Stephens, 14 Skinner Street, a well-known London gunsmith.

Lecoq felt convinced that by examining the bodies of the victims he
would obtain other and perhaps very valuable information; but he did not
dare venture upon such a course. Besides his own inexperience in such a
matter, there was Gevrol to be thought of, and the inspector, furious
at his own mistake, would not fail to declare that, by changing the
attitude of the bodies, Lecoq had rendered a satisfactory examination by
the physicians impossible.

The young detective accordingly tried to console himself for his forced
inaction in this respect, and he was rereading his report, modifying
a few expressions, when Father Absinthe, who was standing
he poured out a glass, and 
 drained it at a single conscription. 

 " Will you take some? " he inquired of his companion. " It is not a very 
 famous brand, to be certain; but it is just as adept, it form one's blood 
 go around and enlivens one. " 

 Lecoq refused; he did not need to be enliven. All his faculties were 
 hard at study. He mean that, after a single perusal of his report, 
 the investigating magistrate should say: " Let the military officer who drew up 
 this document be sent for. " It must be remember that Lecoq's future 
 depended upon such an order. Accordingly, he took especial care to be 
 brief, clear, and concise, to plainly indicate how his suspicion on the 
 subject of the murder had been aroused, how they had increased, and how 
 they had been confirmed. He explained by what series of deductions he 
 had succeeded in establishing a theory which, if it was not the 
 truth, was at least plausible enough to serve as the basis for further 
 investigation. 

 Then he enumerated the articles of conviction ranged on the mesa before 
 him. There were the flakes of brown wool gather upon the board, the 
 valuable earring, the models of the different footprints in the garden, 
 and the Widow Chupin's apron with its pockets turned inside out. There 
 was besides the murderer's revolver, with two barrels discharged and three 
 still loaded. This weapon, although not of an ornamental character, was 
 still a specimen of highly finished workmanship. It bore the name of one 
 Stephens, 14 Skinner Street, a well - known London gunsmith. 

 Lecoq felt convert that by examining the body of the victim he 
 would obtain other and perhaps very valuable data; but he did not 
 dare venture upon such a course. Besides his own inexperience in such a 
 matter, there was Gevrol to be thought of, and the inspector, furious 
 at his own mistake, would not fail to announce that, by changing the 
 attitude of the bodies, Lecoq had rendered a satisfactory examination by 
 the doctor impossible. 

 The young detective accordingly tried to console himself for his constrained 
 inaction in this respect, and he was rereading his reputation, modifying 
 a few expressions, when Father Absinthe, who was stand
 he poured out a glass, and
dvained it at a snbgle dcaft.

"Wilm you haxe some?" he inquired of his clmpaniob. "It is not a very
famojs brand, no be surw; buu it is just as good, it makes ohc's blmid
circulate anc enlivens one."

Lecoq refuvea; ke did not need to be enlivened. All ris facilhies were
hard wt wpwk. Hs intended that, after a single perhsal of his report,
thr investigating magistrate shokld say: "Let the ofvicer who dtsw tp
this documevt be sent for." It must be remembered that Lecoq's futufe
depznded upon wuxh wt order. Accirdindly, he took isrticunar carr to be
brief, ckeac, ane concise, to plainly mndicate how his suskicions on tke
subject of the murdwr had teen arojwed, hos vheg had lncceased, and gow
they had been confirmed. He txpjqined by what serief jf deductions he
had succeeded in establpshihg a theory which, if it was not the
truth, was at least plausible enough to serve as the basis for furthar
invxsgigcblon.

Tfwn he enumerated the articles of conviction randsd ok the table befove
him. There were tne fkwkes of brown wool eklmected upon the plwnk, the
daluavle earrigg, tne models of the different dootprints iu tye garden,
and the Wndow Chupin's aprpn wiyh its pockets turned iuside kut. There
wad also ths murderer's revolxer, whth two barrels discharged and threx
stilk loadea. Thos wea[on, althouhh nob of an ornamental fharaeter, fas
still a specimen of highly finished woclmanship. It nose nhe name jf onc
Stephens, 14 Skinger Street, a wgll-known Jondov gunsmith.

Mecoq fxlt convinceq that by exaklning the bovies of tre vuctins he
wojud obtain othet and perkcps very caluable informatipn; cht he did not
daxt vtnrure upon such a zouwsv. Bxsidef his own inefperkenzr in ruch a
mattev, tfere was Gevrol to be thmughf of, and the inspevtjr, furioos
at his jwn mistake, wpuld not fail to dtclare thet, by vhagging the
attitude of the bodiea, Lecoq hwd vendered a saeisfqctory examiuation by
the physicians impossible.

The yonng detective accordingoy tried to console mimself for iis fowced
inacthon in this respect, qnd he was rereadlng his report, modifyihg
a fef expgessions, when Father Absinthe, who was standing
he poured out a glass, and drained a draft. "Will have some?" he is a very famous to be sure; it is just as good, it one's blood circulate and enlivens one." Lecoq refused; he did not need to enlivened. All his faculties were hard at work. He intended that, after a perusal his the magistrate should say: "Let the officer who drew up this document be sent for." It must remembered that Lecoq's future depended upon such an Accordingly, he took particular to be brief, clear, and to indicate how suspicions the of the murder been aroused, how they had increased, and how they had been confirmed. He explained by what series deductions he in establishing theory if was not the at least plausible enough to serve for further investigation. Then he enumerated the articles conviction ranged the table before him. There were flakes of brown wool collected upon the plank, valuable earring, the models of the different footprints in the garden, and the Widow Chupin's its pockets turned inside There was also murderer's with barrels and three loaded. This weapon, although not of an ornamental character, was still specimen of highly finished workmanship. It bore the name of 14 Street, a well-known gunsmith. Lecoq felt convinced by the bodies of the would other valuable but did not dare venture such a course. Besides his inexperience in such a be thought of, and the inspector, furious at own mistake, would not fail to declare by changing the attitude of the bodies, Lecoq had rendered a satisfactory by the The young detective accordingly tried to console himself his forced inaction in respect, and he was rereading his report, modifying a expressions, Father Absinthe, was standing
 he poured out a glass, and
drainEd it at a sinGle drAft.

"wilL yOu haVe soMe?" he inquired of HIs coMpanion. "It is not a very
famOus brAnD, To be SUrE; but iT is just AS gOOD, it MaKeS onE's BLoOd
cirCulAte and eNlivens one."

lecOq Refused; he did NOt Need to be enLivEned. All his faCulTies weRe
HarD At worK. He IntenDed thaT, After a Single perUsAL of his REport,
thE INvEstiGating magistrate sHOuLD say: "Let the offiCer who DrEW uP
THis DocUment be senT fOr." It mUSt be remEMbERED thAT Lecoq's future
Depended upoN SucH an ordEr. accORdinglY, he toOk PArtIcular care tO be
bRief, clear, And conCIse, to plAInly indIcate hOw hIs sUspiCIoNs On tHe
SUbjECt Of tHE muRder had bEeN aRouseD, how THEY Had iNcrEaseD, and hOw
they had been ConFirmED. He ExplaIned bY whaT sEries Of deduCtionS hE
had succeeded in EstaBlishing a TheOrY whIcH, if it WAs not tHe
tRutH, was at lEast plaUSibLe ENOUgH to serve as the basis FoR FUrTher
inveStigatIOn.

thEN he enumeRaTed The aRTIcles Of coNViCtion ranGed on tHE tAbLe beforE
hIm. TherE wEre The FlakeS Of brOwn wooL collectEd upoN The plank, the
valUAble earring, thE MoDELs OF the DifFerent footpRintS In thE garDEn,
And THe WidOw ChuPiN'S aPRon with its pockets tuRnEd insiDe out. there
was also tHe murderer'S REVolver, wiTh twO BaRRels discharged And thRee
still loADed. This wEapon, Although Not of an orNAMental chAraCteR, waS
stILL a Specimen of higHLY finIsHed workManShip. It bOre The NamE of OnE
Stephens, 14 skinner STrEeT, a WeLl-kNown LONdon gunsMiTh.

LEcOq fElt coNVinced That bY exaMiNiNG thE bodies OF tHE VictImS hE
wouLd oBtAin otHer aND peRhaps veRy valuablE inFOrmaTiOn; But he diD not
dare ventuRe Upon such a cOuRse. besideS HIs own ineXperience in such a
matter, tHEre was GEvrOl to bE thoUght of, and The InspecTor, FUrious
At his oWn misTaKe, wOULd not FAIl To dEcLare that, by CHAngIng thE
aTtitUde of thE bodies, Lecoq had renDEreD a satisfactorY exAminATIoN by
THe PHysIcIAns IMPossible.

The younG detective AcCOrDingly trieD To cOnSole himSelf for His foRCed
inacTion in thiS respect, aNd He waS REreAding his rePort, modiFying
a few EXpresSIoNs, wheN FaTher AbSiNthE, who wAs stanDIng
 he poured out a glass, an d
drainedit at  asin gl e dr aft. 

"Will you ha v e so me?" he inquired of hi s com pa n ion. "I t isnot a v e ry f amo us  b ran d, to  be s ure ; but i t is justasgo od, it makes on e's bloodcir culate and e nli vens o ne ."Lecoq  re fused ; he d i d notneed to b ee nliven e d. Allh i sfacu lties were
hard a t  w o rk. He intende d that ,a ft e r  asin gle perusa lof hi s  report , 
t h e inv e stigating mag istrate sho u ldsay: " Le t t h e offi cer w ho dre w up
this d ocum ent be se nt for . " It mu s t be re member edtha t Le c oq 's  fu tu r e
d e pe nde d  up on suchan  o rder.  Acc o r d i ngly , h e to ok pa rticular care  to  beb rie f, cl ear,andco ncise , to p lainl yindicate how hi s su spicionsonth e
s ub jecto f themur der  had be en arou s ed,  h o w th ey had increased,an d ho w
they h ad bee n  c on f irmed. H eexp lain e d  by w hats er ies of d educti o ns  h e
had s uc ceeded  i n e sta blish i ng a  theor y which,  if i t  was not the
t r uth, was at l e as t pl a usib leenough to s erve as t he b a si s f o r fur therin v es t igation.

Then he e nu merate d the  articles ofconviction r a nged onthet ab l e before
him.There  were thef lakes of  brow n wool c ollectedu p on the p lan k,the 
va l u ab le earring, t h e  mod el s of th e d ifferen t f oot pri nts  i n the gar den,
and  t he  W id owChupi n 's apron  w ith  i tspocke t s turn ed in side  o ut .  Th ere
was al s o  the  m ur dere r's  r evolv er,w ith  two ba rrels dis cha r gedan dthree
s till loaded.Th is weapon,  a lth ough n o t  of an o rnamental character, wa s 
stilla s pecim en o f highlyfin ishedwor k manshi p. Itboreth e n a m e ofo n eSte ph ens, 14 Sk i n ner  Stre et , awell-kn own London gunsmit h .
Lecoq felt co nvi nced t ha t b y  e x ami ni n g t h e  bodies of thevictims he 
w o ul d obtain o t her  a nd perh aps ver y val u able in formation ; but hedi d no t dar e ventureupon suc h a cours e . Bes i de s his  ow n inex pe rie nce i n such a
m atter , ther ewas Ge vrolto  be thou ght of, and the inspect or, fu rious 
at  his ownmis t ake , would n ot f ail to dec lar e t hat,byc hangi ng t h eatt i tudeof t h e bodies, Le coq h ad  rendered a s a tis facto rye xamina tion  by
the physician s  impossible.
They o ung  de t ecti ve  accordingly t rie dt o  console  h imself forhis forc ed inact ion in  thisrespect , an d  he wa s re rea ding hisrep or t , modif yi ng a fewexpr es sions,  whenF athe r Absinthe, who wa s sta n d ing
 he_poured out_a glass, and
drained it_at a_single_draft.

"Will you_have_some?" he inquired_of his companion._"It is not a_very
famous brand, to_be_sure; but it is just as good, it makes one's blood
circulate and enlivens one."

Lecoq_refused;_he did_not_need_to be enlivened. All his_faculties were
hard at work. He_intended that,_after a single perusal of his report,
the investigating_magistrate_should say: "Let_the officer who drew up
this document be sent for."_It must be remembered that Lecoq's_future
depended upon such_an_order._Accordingly, he took particular_care to be
brief, clear, and concise,_to plainly indicate how his suspicions_on the
subject of the murder had been_aroused, how they had increased, and_how
they had been confirmed. He_explained by_what series of deductions he
had_succeeded in establishing_a theory_which, if it_was not the
truth, was at least_plausible enough to_serve as the basis for further
investigation.

Then_he_enumerated the articles_of_conviction_ranged on_the table before
him._There_were the_flakes_of brown wool collected upon the_plank,_the
valuable earring, the models of the different_footprints in the garden,
and_the_Widow Chupin's apron with_its pockets turned inside out._There
was also the murderer's revolver, with_two barrels_discharged and_three
still loaded. This weapon, although not of an ornamental character, was
still_a specimen of highly finished workmanship._It bore the name_of one
Stephens,_14_Skinner Street, a_well-known_London gunsmith.

Lecoq_felt convinced that by examining the bodies_of the_victims he
would obtain other and perhaps_very valuable information; but_he_did not
dare venture upon such a_course. Besides his own inexperience in_such a
matter, there was Gevrol_to_be_thought of, and the inspector,_furious
at his own mistake, would not_fail to declare_that, by changing the
attitude of the bodies,_Lecoq_had rendered a satisfactory examination by
the_physicians_impossible.

The young detective accordingly tried to_console_himself_for his forced
inaction in this_respect, and he was rereading his_report, modifying
a few expressions, when Father Absinthe, who was_standing