on that score," said he,
"I should like some information about another prisoner--a fellow named
Chupin, who isn't in the secret cells. I want to know if any visitor
came for him yesterday."

"I must speak to the registrar," replied the governor, "before I can
answer you with certainty. Wait a moment though, here comes a man who
can perhaps tell us. He is usually on guard at the entrance. Here,
Ferraud, this way!"

The man to whom the governor called hastened to obey the summons.

"Do you know whether any one asked to see the prisoner Chupin
yesterday?"

"Yes, sir, I went to fetch Chupin to the parlor myself."

"And who was his visitor?" eagerly asked Lecoq, "wasn't he a tall man;
very red in the face--"

"Excuse me, sir, the visitor was a lady--his aunt, at least so Chupin
told me."

Neither M. Segmuller nor Lecoq could restrain an exclamation of
surprise. "What was she like?" they both asked at the same time.

"She was short," replied the attendant, "with a very fair complexion and
light hair; she seemed to be a very respectable woman."

"It must have been one of the female fugitives who escaped from the
Widow Chupin's hovel," exclaimed Lecoq.

Gevrol, hitherto an attentive listener, burst into a loud laugh. "Still
that Russian princess," said he.

Neither the magistrate nor the young detective relished this
unseasonable jest. "You forget yourself, sir," said M. Segmuller
severely. "You forget that the sneers you address to your comrade also
apply to me!"

The General saw that he had gone too far; and while glancing hatefully
at Lecoq, he mumbled an apology to the magistrate. The latter did not
apparently hear him, for, bowing to the governor, he motioned Lecoq to
follow him away.

"Run to the Prefecture of Police," he said as soon as they were out of
hearing, "and ascertain how and under what pretext this woman obtained
permission to see Polyte Chupin."

XVII

On his way back to his office, M. Segmuller mentally reviewed the
position of affairs; and came to the conclusion that as he had failed
to take the citadel of defense by storm, he must resign himself to a
regular protracted siege. He was exceedingly annoyed at the constant
failures that had attended all Lecoq's efforts; for time was on the
wing, and he knew that in a criminal investigation delay only increased
the uncertainty of success. The more promptly a crime is followed by
judicial action the easier it is to find the culprit, and