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Updated: May 5, 2025
The former's views were shared by the officials at the prison; the latter stood alone. Again, the former's opinion was based upon formidable proof, the evidence of sight; while Lecoq's hypothesis rested only on a series of subtle observations and deductions, starting from a single sentence that had fallen from the prisoner's lips.
"Joseph Couturier! an escaped convict!" The superintendent certainly did not understand Lecoq's agitation any better than Father Absinthe's discomfited air. "You have reason to be proud of your work; your success will make a sensation this morning," he repeated. "You have captured a famous prize. I can see Gevrol's nose now when he hears the news.
"No, the women were outside the garden when he entered it." This assertion seemed far too audacious to suit Lecoq's companion, who remarked: "One can not be sure of that." "I am sure of it, however; and can prove it conclusively. If you doubt it, it is because your eyes are growing old.
There are means of verifying my suspicions." The magistrate scarcely heard Lecoq's last words, so enraged was he at the inconceivable audacity and devotion displayed by so many people: all of whom were apparently willing to run the greatest risks so long as they could only assure the murderer's incognito.
Its smell showed that it had contained brandy. Then these two women had not been with the murderer, and therefore he could not have fought because the other men had insulted them. This discovery proved the inaccuracy of Lecoq's original suppositions.
With Lecoq's last words still ringing in his ears, it is no wonder that the magistrate should have dwelt on this last supposition. "Are you quite sure," he asked, "that no communication from outside can reach the inmates of the secret cells?" The governor of the Depot was cut to the quick by M. Segmuller's implied doubt. What! were his subordinates suspected?
"Oh, spare us your reflections!" "Very well, sir, that suits me exactly. To be brief, then here is a little paper which was thrown into my cell a few minutes ago. There are some numbers on it which may mean something; but I have examined them, and they are quite Greek to me." He paused, and then handing Lecoq's missive to the magistrate, quietly added: "It was rolled up in a bit of bread."
The proof is easy, indeed, and a child of ten, having heard it, wouldn't think of being deceived by this intentional disorder of the bedclothes." M. Lecoq's auditors drew up to him. He put the coverings back upon the middle of the bed, and went on: "Both of the pillows are much rumpled, are they not?
Lecoq's head whirled. "Her granddaughter!" he stammered. "Yes the daughter of her deceased son, if you prefer it." "How old is the marchioness, then?" "At least sixty: but one would never suspect it. She is one of those persons who live a hundred years. And what an old wretch she is too. She would think no more of knocking me over the head than I would of emptying this glass of wine "
In less than twenty minutes they arrived at the Palais de Justice. M. Segmuller did not seem to be immoderately surprised at Lecoq's revelations. Still he listened with evident doubt to the young policeman's ingenious deductions; it was the circumstance of the starling that seemed to decide him.
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