tty trap when he
got over that wall. There was a reception at the mansion this evening,
as there is every Monday, and every one in the house is still up. The
guests are only just leaving, for there were five or six carriages still
at the door as we passed by."

Lecoq darted off extremely troubled by what he had just heard. It now
seemed to him that if May had got into this garden, it was not for
the purpose of committing a robbery, but in the hope of throwing his
pursuers off the track, and making his escape by way of the Rue de
Grenelle, which he hoped to do unnoticed, in the bustle and confusion
attending the departure of the guests.

On reaching the Hotel de Sairmeuse, a princely dwelling, the long facade
of which was brilliantly illuminated, Lecoq found a last carriage just
coming from the courtyard, while several footmen were extinguishing the
lights, and an imposing "Suisse," dazzling to behold in his gorgeous
livery, prepared to close the heavy double doors of the grand entrance.

The young detective advanced toward this important personage: "Is this
the Hotel de Sairmeuse?" he inquired.

The Suisse suspended his work to survey the audacious vagabond who
ventured to question him, and then in a harsh voice replied: "I advise
you to pass on. I want none of your jesting."

Lecoq had forgotten that he was clad as a barriere loafer. "Ah,"
he rejoined, "I'm not what I seem to be. I'm an agent of the secret
service; by name Lecoq. Here is my card, and I came to tell you that
an escaped criminal has just scaled the garden wall in the rear of the
Hotel de Sairmeuse."

"A crim-in-al?"

The young detective thought a little exaggeration could do no harm, and
might perhaps insure him more ready aid. "Yes," he replied; "and one
of the most dangerous kind--a man who has the blood of three victims
already on his hands. We have just arrested his accomplice, who helped
him over the wall."

The flunky's ruby nose paled perceptibly. "I will summon the servants,"
he faltered, and suiting the action to the word, he was raising his hand
to the bell-chain, employed to announce the arrival of visitors, when
Lecoq hastily stopped him.

"A word first!" said he. "Might not the fugitive have passed through
the house and escaped by this door, without being seen? In that case he
would be far away by this time."

"Impossible!"

"But why?"

"Excuse me, but I know what I am saying. First, the door opening into
the garden is close