ed; and he
would have remained May--the stroller, without any further doubt as to
his identity. But how could he know that I had discovered his secret
correspondence, and that I was watching him from the loft overhead? That
will probably never be explained."

The governor and the young detective exchanged glances of mutual
distrust. "Eh! eh!" thought the former, "yes, indeed, that note which
fell into the cell while I was there the other day might after all have
been this crafty fellow's work. His Father Absinthe may have served him
in the first instance just as he did subsequently."

While these reflections were flitting through the governor's mind, Lecoq
suspiciously remarked to himself: "Who knows but what this fool of
a governor confided everything to Gevrol? If he did so, the General,
jealous as he is, would not have scrupled to play one such a damaging
trick."

His thoughts had gone no further when Goguet, the smiling clerk, boldly
broke the silence with the trite remark: "What a pity such a clever
comedy didn't succeed."

These words startled the magistrate from his reverie. "Yes, a shameful
farce," said he, "and one I would never have authorized, had I not been
blinded by a mad longing to arrive at the truth. Such tricks only bring
the sacred majesty of justice into contempt!"

At these bitter words, Lecoq turned white with anger. This was the
second affront within an hour. The prisoner had first insulted him, and
now it was the magistrate's turn. "I am defeated," thought he. "I must
confess it. Fate is against me! Ah! if I had only succeeded!"

Disappointment alone had impelled M. Segmuller to utter these harsh
words; they were both cruel and unjust, and the magistrate soon
regretted them, and did everything in his power to drive them from
Lecoq's recollection. They met every day after this unfortunate
incident; and every morning, when the young detective came to give an
account of his investigations, they had a long conference together. For
Lecoq still continued his efforts; still labored on with an obstinacy
intensified by constant sneers; still pursued his investigations with
that cold and determined zeal which keeps one's faculties on the alert
for years.

The magistrate, however, was utterly discouraged. "We must abandon this
attempt," said he. "All the means of detection have been exhausted.
I give it up. The prisoner will go to the Assizes, to be acquitted or
condemned under the name of May. I w