"I desired, sir, to collect certain evidence and an opportunity to do so may not present itself again."
The magistrate perhaps fathomed the young man"s motive. "Then, let it be so," he replied, "but after your task is completed you must wait for me at the prefecture, where I shall proceed as soon as I have finished here. You may go."
Lecoq did not wait for the order to be repeated. He s.n.a.t.c.hed up the papers, and hastened away.
He literally flew over the ground, and strange to say he no longer experienced any fatigue from the labors of the preceding night. Never had he felt so strong and alert, either in body or mind. He was very hopeful of success. He had every confidence in himself, and his happiness would indeed have been complete if he had had another judge to deal with. But M. d"Escorval overawed him to such a degree that he became almost paralyzed in his presence. With what a disdainful glance the magistrate had surveyed him! With what an imperious tone he had imposed silence upon him-and that, too, when he had found his work deserving of commendation.
"Still, never mind," the young detective mentally exclaimed, "no one ever tastes perfect happiness here below."
And concentrating all his thoughts on the task before him, he hurried on his way.
VII
When, after a rapid walk of twenty minutes, Lecoq reached the police station near the Barriere d"Italie, the doorkeeper, with his pipe in his mouth, was pacing slowly to and fro before the guard-house. His thoughtful air, and the anxious glances he cast every now and then toward one of the little grated windows of the building sufficed to indicate that some very rare bird indeed had been entrusted to his keeping. As soon as he recognized Lecoq, his brow cleared, and he paused in his promenade.
"Ah, well!" he inquired, "what news do you bring?"
"I have an order to conduct the prisoners to the prefecture."
The keeper rubbed his hands, and his smile of satisfaction plainly implied that he felt a load the less on his shoulders.
"Capital! capital!" he exclaimed. "The Black Maria, the prison van, will pa.s.s here in less than an hour; we will throw them in, and hurry the driver off-"
Lecoq was obliged to interrupt the keeper"s transports of satisfaction. "Are the prisoners alone?" he inquired.
"Quite alone: the woman in one cell, and the man in the other. This has been a remarkably quiet night, for Shrove Sunday! Quite surprising indeed! It is true your hunt was interrupted."
"You had a drunken man here, however."
"No-yes-that"s true-this morning just at daybreak. A poor devil, who is under a great obligation to Gevrol."
The involuntary irony of this remark did not escape Lecoq. "Yes, under a great obligation, indeed!" he said with a derisive laugh.
"You may laugh as much as you like," retorted the keeper, "but such is really the case; if it hadn"t been for Gevrol the man would certainly have been run over."
"And what has become of him?"
The keeper shrugged his shoulders. "You ask me too much," he responded. He was a worthy fellow who had been spending the night at a friend"s house, and on coming out into the open air, the wine flew into his head. He told us all about it when he got sober, half an hour afterward. I never saw a man so vexed as he was. He wept, and stammered: "The father of a family, and at my age too! Oh! it is shameful! What shall I say to my wife? What will the children think?"
"Did he talk much about his wife?"
"He talked about nothing else. He mentioned her name-Eudosia Leocadie, or some name of that sort. He declared that he should be ruined if we kept him here. He begged us to send for the commissary, to go to his house, and when we set him free, I thought he would go mad with joy; he kissed our hands, and thanked us again and again!"
"And did you place him in the same cage as the murderer?" inquired Lecoq.
"Of course."
"Then they talked with each other."
"Talked? Why, the drunkard was so "gone" I tell you, that he couldn"t have said "bread" distinctly. When he was placed in a cell, bang! He fell down like a log of wood. As soon as he recovered, we let him out. I"m sure, they didn"t talk to each other."
The young police agent had grown very thoughtful. "I was evidently right," he murmured.
"What did you say?" inquired the keeper.
"Nothing," replied Lecoq, who was not inclined to communicate his reflections to the custodian of the guard-house. These reflections of his were by no means pleasant ones. "I was right," he thought; "this pretended drunkard was none other than the accomplice. He is evidently an adroit, audacious, cool-headed fellow. While we were tracking his footprints he was watching us. When we had got to some distance, he was bold enough to enter the hovel. Then he came here and compelled them to arrest him; and thanks to an a.s.sumption of childish simplicity, he succeeded in finding an opportunity to speak with the murderer. He played his part perfectly. Still, I know that he did play a part, and that is something. I know that one must believe exactly the opposite of what he said. He talked of his family, his wife and children-hence, he has neither children, wife, nor family."
Lecoq suddenly checked himself, remembering that he had no time to waste in conjectures. "What kind of fellow was this drunkard?" he inquired.
"He was tall and stout, with full ruddy cheeks, a pair of white whiskers, small eyes, a broad flat nose, and a good-natured, jovial manner."
"How old would you suppose him to be?"
"Between forty and fifty."
"Did you form any idea of his profession?"
"It"s my opinion, that what with his soft cap and his heavy brown overcoat, he must be either a clerk or the keeper of some little shop."
Having obtained this description, which agreed with the result of his investigations, Lecoq was about to enter the station house when a sudden thought brought him to a standstill. "I hope this man has had no communication with this Widow Chupin!" he exclaimed.
The keeper laughed heartily. "How could he have had any?" he responded. "Isn"t the old woman alone in her cell? Ah, the old wretch! She has been cursing and threatening ever since she arrived. Never in my whole life have I heard such language as she has used. It has been enough to make the very stones blush; even the drunken man was so shocked that he went to the grating in the door, and told her to be quiet."
Lecoq"s glance and gesture were so expressive of impatience and wrath that the keeper paused in his recital much perturbed. "What is the matter?" he stammered. "Why are you angry?"
"Because," replied Lecoq, furiously, "because-" Not wishing to disclose the real cause of his anger, he entered the station house, saying that he wanted to see the prisoner.
Left alone, the keeper began to swear in his turn. "These police agents are all alike," he grumbled. "They question you, you tell them all they desire to know; and afterward, if you venture to ask them anything, they reply: "nothing," or "because." They have too much authority; it makes them proud."
Looking through the little latticed window in the door, by which the men on guard watch the prisoners, Lecoq eagerly examined the appearance of the a.s.sumed murderer. He was obliged to ask himself if this was really the same man he had seen some hours previously at the Poivriere, standing on the threshold of the inner door, and holding the whole squad of police agents in check by the intense fury of his att.i.tude. Now, on the contrary, he seemed, as it were, the personification of weakness and despondency. He was seated on a bench opposite the grating in the door, his elbows resting on his knees, his chin upon his hand, his under lip hanging low and his eyes fixed upon vacancy.
"No," murmured Lecoq, "no, this man is not what he seems to be."
So saying he entered the cell, the culprit raised his head, gave the detective an indifferent glance, but did not utter a word.
"Well, how goes it?" asked Lecoq.
"I am innocent!" responded the prisoner, in a hoa.r.s.e, discordant voice.
"I hope so, I am sure-but that is for the magistrate to decide. I came to see if you wanted anything."
"No," replied the murderer, but a second later he changed his mind. "All the same," he said, "I shouldn"t mind a crust and a drink of wine."
"You shall have them," replied Lecoq, who at once went out to forage in the neighborhood for eatables of some sort. In his opinion, if the murderer had asked for a drink after at first refusing to partake of anything, it was solely with the view of conveying the idea that he was really the kind of man he pretended to be.
At all events, whoever he might be, the prisoner ate with an excellent appet.i.te. He then took up the large gla.s.s of wine that had been brought him, drained it slowly, and remarked: "That"s capital! There can be nothing to beat that!"
This seeming satisfaction greatly disappointed Lecoq, who had selected, as a test, one of those horribly thick, bluish, nauseous mixtures in vogue around the barrieres-hoping, nay, almost expecting, that the murderer would not drink it without some sign of repugnance. And yet the contrary proved the case. However, the young detective had no time to ponder over the circ.u.mstance, for a rumble of wheels now announced the approach of that lugubrious vehicle, the Black Maria.
When the Widow Chupin was removed from her cell she fought and scratched and cried "Murder!" at the top of her voice; and it was only by sheer force that she was at length got into the van. Then it was that the officials turned to the a.s.sa.s.sin. Lecoq certainly expected some sign of repugnance now, and he watched the prisoner closely. But he was again doomed to disappointment. The culprit entered the vehicle in the most unconcerned manner, and took possession of his compartment like one accustomed to it, knowing the most comfortable position to a.s.sume in such close quarters.
"Ah! what an unfortunate morning," murmured Lecoq, disconsolately. "Still I will lie in wait for him at the prefecture."
When the door of the prison-van had been securely closed, the driver cracked his whip, and the st.u.r.dy horses started off at a brisk trot. Lecoq had taken his seat in front, between the driver and the guard; but his mind was so engrossed with his own thoughts that he heard nothing of their conversation, which was very jovial, although frequently interrupted by the shrill voice of the Widow Chupin, who sang and yelled her imprecations alternately.
It is needless, however, to recapitulate her oaths; let us rather follow the train of Lecoq"s meditation. By what means could he secure some clue to the murderer"s ident.i.ty? He was still convinced that the prisoner must belong to the higher ranks of society. After all, it was not so extraordinary that he should have succeeded in feigning an appet.i.te, that he should have concealed his distaste for a nauseous beverage, and that he should have entered the Black Maria without hesitation. Such conduct was quite possible, indeed almost probable on the part of a man, endowed with considerable strength of will, and realizing the imminence of his peril. But granting this, would he be equally able to hide his feelings when he was obliged to submit to the humiliating formalities that awaited him-formalities which in certain cases can, and must, be pushed even to the verge of insult and outrage?
No; Lecoq could not believe that this would be possible. He felt sure that the disgraceful position in which the prisoner would find himself would cause him to revolt, to lose his self-control, to utter some word that might give the desired clue.
It was not until the gloomy vehicle had turned off the Pont Neuf on to the Quai de l"Horloge that the young detective became conscious of what was transpiring around him. Soon the van pa.s.sed through an open gateway, and drew up in a small, damp courtyard.
Lecoq immediately alighted, and opened the door of the compartment in which the supposed murderer was confined, exclaiming as he did so: "Here we are, get out." There was no fear of the prisoner escaping. The iron gate had been closed, and at least a dozen agents were standing near at hand, waiting to have a look at the new arrivals.
The prisoner slowly stepped to the ground. His expression of face remained unchanged, and each gesture evinced the perfect indifference of a man accustomed to such ordeals.
Lecoq scrutinized his demeanor as attentively as an anatomist might have watched the action of a muscle. He noted that the prisoner seemed to experience a sensation of satisfaction directly his foot touched the pavement of the courtyard, that he drew a long breath, and then stretched and shook himself, as if to regain the elasticity of his limbs, cramped by confinement in the narrow compartment from which he had just emerged. Then he glanced around him, and a scarcely perceptible smile played upon his lips. One might have sworn that the place was familiar to him, that he was well acquainted with these high grim walls, these grated windows, these heavy doors-in short, with all the sinister belongings of a prison.
"Good Lord!" murmured Lecoq, greatly chagrined, "does he indeed recognize the place?"
And his sense of disappointment and disquietude increased when, without waiting for a word, a motion, or a sign, the prisoner turned toward one of the five or six doors that opened into the courtyard. Without an instant"s hesitation he walked straight toward the very doorway he was expected to enter-Lecoq asked himself was it chance? But his amazement and disappointment increased tenfold when, after entering the gloomy corridor, he saw the culprit proceed some little distance, resolutely turn to the left, pa.s.s by the keeper"s room, and finally enter the registrar"s office. An old offender could not have done better.
Big drops of perspiration stood on Lecoq"s forehead. "This man," thought he, "has certainly been here before; he knows the ropes."
The registrar"s office was a large room heated almost to suffocation by an immense stove, and badly lighted by three small windows, the panes of which were covered with a thick coating of dust. There sat the clerk reading a newspaper, spread out over the open register-that fatal book in which are inscribed the names of all those whom misconduct, crime, misfortune, madness, or error have brought to these grim portals.
Three or four attendants, who were awaiting the hour for entering upon their duties, reclined half asleep upon the wooden benches that lined three sides of the room. These benches, with a couple of tables, and some dilapidated chairs, const.i.tuted the entire furniture of the office, in one corner of which stood a measuring machine, under which each culprit was obliged to pa.s.s, the exact height of the prisoners being recorded in order that the description of their persons might be complete in every respect.
At the entrance of the culprit accompanied by Lecoq, the clerk raised his head. "Ah!" said he, "has the van arrived?"
"Yes," responded Lecoq. And showing the orders signed by M. d"Escorval, he added: "Here are this man"s papers."
The registrar took the doc.u.ments and read them. "Oh!" he exclaimed, "a triple a.s.sa.s.sination! Oh! oh!" The glance he gave the prisoner was positively deferential. This was no common culprit, no ordinary vagabond, no vulgar thief.
"The investigating magistrate orders a private examination," continued the clerk, "and I must get the prisoner other clothing, as the things he is wearing now will be used as evidence. Let some one go at once and tell the superintendent that the other occupants of the van must wait."
At this moment, the governor of the Depot entered the office. The clerk at once dipped his pen in the ink, and turning to the prisoner he asked: "What is your name?"
"May."
"Your Christian name?"
"I have none."
"What, have you no Christian name?"
The prisoner seemed to reflect for a moment, and then answered, sulkily: "I may as well tell you that you need not tire yourself by questioning me. I shan"t answer any one else but the magistrate. You would like to make me cut my own throat, wouldn"t you? A very clever trick, of course, but one that won"t do for me."
"You must see that you only aggravate your situation," observed the governor.
"Not in the least. I am innocent; you wish to ruin me. I only defend myself. Get anything more out of me now, if you can. But you had better give me back what they took from me at the station-house. My hundred and thirty-six francs and eight sous. I shall need them when I get out of this place. I want you to make a note of them on the register. Where are they?"
The money had been given to Lecoq by the keeper of the station-house, who had found it upon the prisoner when he was placed in his custody. Lecoq now laid it upon the table.
"Here are your hundred and thirty-six francs and eight sous," said he, "and also your knife, your handkerchief, and four cigars."
An expression of lively contentment was discernible on the prisoner"s features.
"Now," resumed the clerk, "will you answer?"
But the governor perceived the futility of further questioning; and silencing the clerk by a gesture, he told the prisoner to take off his boots.
Lecoq thought the a.s.sa.s.sin"s glance wavered as he heard this order. Was it only a fancy?
"Why must I do that?" asked the culprit.
"To pa.s.s under the beam," replied the clerk. "We must make a note of your exact height."
The prisoner made no reply, but sat down and drew off his heavy boots. The heel of the right one was worn down on the inside. It was, moreover, noticed that the prisoner wore no socks, and that his feet were coated with mud.
"You only wear boots on Sundays, then?" remarked Lecoq.
"Why do you think that?"
"By the mud with which your feet are covered, as high as the ankle-bone."
"What of that?" exclaimed the prisoner, in an insolent tone. "Is it a crime not to have a marchioness"s feet?"
"It is a crime you are not guilty of, at all events," said the young detective slowly. "Do you think I can"t see that if the mud were picked off your feet would be white and neat? The nails have been carefully cut and polished-"
He paused. A new idea inspired by his genius for investigation had just crossed Lecoq"s mind. Pushing a chair in front of the prisoner, and spreading a newspaper over it, he said: "Will you place your foot there?"
The man did not comply with the request.
"It is useless to resist," exclaimed the governor, "we are in force."
The prisoner delayed no longer. He placed his foot on the chair, as he had been ordered, and Lecoq, with the aid of a knife, proceeded to remove the fragments of mud that adhered to the skin.
Anywhere else so strange and grotesque a proceeding would have excited laughter, but here, in this gloomy chamber, the anteroom of the a.s.size court, an otherwise trivial act is fraught with serious import. Nothing astonishes; and should a smile threaten to curve one"s lips, it is instantly repressed.