at is now to be pursued."

Thus reminded of the present situation of affairs, the young detective
smiled; all his rancor was forgotten. "There is, I think, but one course
to pursue," he replied in a modest tone; "and I believe it will
be successful by reason of its simplicity. We must substitute a
communication of our own composition for this one. That will not be
at all difficult, since I have the key to the cipher. I shall only
be obliged to purchase a similar volume of Beranger's songs; and May,
believing that he is addressing his accomplice, will reply in all
sincerity--will reveal everything perhaps--"

"Excuse me!" interrupted the governor, "but how will you obtain
possession of his reply?"

"Ah! you ask me too much. I know the way in which his letters have
reached him. For the rest, I will watch and find a way--never fear!"

Goguet, the smiling clerk, could not conceal an approving grin. If he
had happened to have ten francs in his pocket just then he would have
risked them all on Lecoq without a moment's hesitation.

"First," resumed the young detective, "I will replace this missive by
one of my own composition. To-morrow, at breakfast time, if the prisoner
gives the signal, Father Absinthe shall throw the morsel of bread
enclosing my note through the window while I watch the effect through
the hole in the ceiling of the cell."

Lecoq was so delighted with this plan of his that he at once rang the
bell, and when the magistrate's messenger appeared, he gave him half a
franc and requested him to go at once and purchase some of the thinnest
tissue paper. When this had been procured, Lecoq took his seat at the
clerk's desk, and, provided with the volume of Beranger's songs, began
to compose a fresh note, copying as closely as possible the forms of the
figures used by the unknown correspondent. The task did not occupy him
more than ten minutes, for, fearing lest he might commit some blunder,
he reproduced most of the words of the original letter, giving them,
however, an entirely different meaning.

When completed, his note read as follows: "I have told her your wishes;
she does not submit. Our safety is threatened. We are awaiting your
orders. I tremble."

Having acquainted the magistrate with the purport of the note, Lecoq
next rolled up the paper, and enclosing it in the fragment of bread,
remarked: "To-morrow we shall learn something new."

To-morrow! The twenty-four hours that separated the young man f