a passion for his profession; but not to such an extent as that. You
believed that his leg was broken. Then were you not surprised to find
a magistrate, with a broken limb, suffering mortal anguish, taking such
wonderful interest in a miserable murderer? I haven't any broken bones,
I've only got the gout; but I know very well that when I'm suffering,
half the world might be judging the other half, and yet the idea of
sending Mariette for information would never occur to me. Ah! a moment's
reflection would have enabled you to understand the reason of his
solicitude, and would probably have given you the key to the whole
mystery."

Lecoq, who was such a brilliant casuist in the Widow Chupin's hovel, who
was so full of confidence in himself, and so earnest in expounding his
theories to simple Father Absinthe--Lecoq hung his head abashed and did
not utter a word. But he felt neither anger nor impatience.

He had come to ask advice, and was glad that it should be given him. He
had made many mistakes, as he now saw only too plainly; and when they
were pointed out to him he neither fumed nor fretted, nor tried to prove
that he had been right when he had been wrong. This was certainly an
excellent trait in his character.

Meanwhile, M. Tabaret had poured out a great glass of some cooling drink
and drained it. He now resumed: "I need not remind you of the mistake
you made in not compelling Toinon Chupin to tell you all she knew about
this affair while she was in your power. 'A bird in the hand'--you know
the proverb."

"Be assured, Monsieur Tabaret, that this mistake has cost me enough to
make me realize the danger of allowing a well-disposed witness's zeal to
cool down."

"We will say no more about that, then. But I must tell you that three
or four times, at least, it has been in your power to clear up this
mystery."

The oracle paused, awaiting some protestation from his disciple. None
came, however. "If he says this," thought the young detective, "it must
indeed be so."

This discretion made a great impression on old Tabaret, and increased
the esteem he had conceived for Lecoq. "The first time that you were
lacking in discretion," said he, "was when you tried to discover the
owner of the diamond earring found at the Poivriere."

"I made every effort to discover the last owner."

"You tried very hard, I don't deny it; but as for making every
effort--that's quite another thing. For instance, when you heard that
the