Chapter

  1 I    |            the moment of detection may produce on a court of justice,
  2 I    |             well! it seems to me—I may, of course, be mistaken—
  3 I    |           one of your comrades you may select. And if you find
  4 II   |      disposition, and is poor, one may either become a famous thief
  5 IV   |       quickly. And you, my friend, may now extinguish your lantern.”~
  6 V    |             with an ironical air. “May one be permitted to ask
  7 V    |           had finished reading. “I may be mistaken; but your explanations
  8 VI   |           said the old doctor, “we may reasonably suppose that
  9 VI   |     eulogium: “Men as honest as he may, I believe, exist; but more
 10 VI   |          when I have them in hand. May I be hung if the grounds
 11 VI   |         Lecoq, that the magistrate may see you.”~The young man
 12 VI   |        second rebuff, interposed. “May I venture, sir, to beg of
 13 VI   |         magistrate.~“Impossible, I may have need of you here.”~“
 14 VI   |            an opportunity to do so may not present itself again.”~
 15 VI   |            have finished here. You may go.”~Lecoq did not wait
 16 VII  |        with a derisive laugh.~“You may laugh as much as you like,”
 17 VII  |       asked: “What is your name?”~“May.”~“Your Christian name?”~“
 18 VII  |         then answered, sulkily: “I may as well tell you that you
 19 VII  |    necessary, so that by and by he may not pretend that the dust
 20 VIII |          matter how seriously they may be compromised. In truth,
 21 VIII |         all he had to say.~“As you may suppose,” continued the
 22 VIII |         more sensitive among them, may come no further than the
 23 VIII |          unoccupied, strange as it may seem, the visitors turn
 24 IX   |      exclaimed: “You are right. It may be that you have discovered
 25 IX   |       examine the Widow Chupin. We may gain some information from
 26 IX   |           magistrate’s penetration may have been due to some notes
 27 IX   |     Frangaise. Without boasting, I may say that I haven’t an equal
 28 IX   |          you to maintain it, and I may add that it would not be
 29 IX   |             he asked.~“Nothing—you may have it examined; it was
 30 X    |         one system, no matter what may be their condition in life.
 31 X    |          her next examination, you may be sure she will turn her
 32 X    |       examination of the prisoner, May. Since his unsuccessful
 33 X    |        reserve.”~“As for that, you may depend upon me.” As he spoke
 34 X    |    frankness. What is your name?”~“May.”~“What is your Christian
 35 X    |        argument in his favor.~“You may tell your own story, then,”
 36 X    |    happened to be the first day of May, they decided to call me
 37 X    |             and so it happens that May has been my name from that
 38 X    |        Father Tringlot’s neglect. ‘May, my boy,’ said I, ‘you are
 39 X    |         prisoner’s German harangue may be thus rendered: “With
 40 XI   |            examining the prisoner, May.~And yet this man, characterized
 41 XI   |              Certainly,” responded May, emphatically. “M. Simpson
 42 XI   |           resumed the prisoner, “I may be mistaken. He may not
 43 XI   |              I may be mistaken. He may not have started yet, though
 44 XI   |            that!”~This exclamation may have been in accordance
 45 XI   |           rises above his chin. He may for a while have preserved
 46 XI   |        your adversaries occupied.”~May obeyed, and with an assurance
 47 XII  |      difficulty that he faltered: “May my first mouthful of bread
 48 XII  |             However faithfully one may describe an examination
 49 XII  |            although the magistrate may be an adept in the art of
 50 XII  |     assertion costs me my life—I’m May and none other.”~“No, you
 51 XII  |           into which blind passion may hurl even an honest man.
 52 XII  |       already told you. My name is May, and I earn my living by
 53 XIII |          either this man is really May, the stroller, earning his
 54 XIII |            surely not the buffoon, May,” replied the young detective.~“
 55 XIII |       still to retain the prisoner May in solitary confinement?”~“
 56 XIII |     measures concerning them as he may deem necessary for the interest
 57 XIII |          him, saying: “Now go; and may good luck attend you!”~
 58 XIV  |           a “foreign workman named May.”~He conducted his search
 59 XIV  |         stopping here. His name is May.”~“May!” repeated the hostess,
 60 XIV  |           here. His name is May.”~“May!” repeated the hostess,
 61 XIV  |            hostess, thoughtfully. “May!”~“He ought to have arrived
 62 XIV  |          this man gave you? Was it May? Try to recollect if that
 63 XIV  |     recollect if that was the name—May—May!”~“Ah! I have so many
 64 XIV  |           if that was the name—May—May!”~“Ah! I have so many things
 65 XIV  |           here on the seventh line—May—no Christian name—foreign
 66 XV   |      journey.”~“Oh, Cocotte’s legs may be relied upon.”~“My companion
 67 XV   |          scented danger. Hence, we may hope. Now let us get back
 68 XV   |            pleasantry too far. You may say that I have a solid
 69 XV   |            he, “I have a clue that may lead me to the truth. What
 70 XVI  |      headway,” thought the clerk. “May’s prospects are encouraging.”
 71 XVI  |           a very bad humor, so you may expect to have your head
 72 XVI  |           the present course which may lead you into serious danger.
 73 XVI  |           into serious danger. One may be an accomplice in more
 74 XVI  |          Segmuller hesitated. “You may retire, my good woman,”
 75 XVI  |           He knows nothing of what may be going on in the world
 76 XVI  |            not tell what witnesses may have been called, or what
 77 XVI  |          been called, or what they may have said, and in his uncertainty
 78 XVI  |           moment, the situation of May, the mysterious murderer;
 79 XVI  |            come about the prisoner May.~As the magistrate nodded
 80 XVI  |           very well satisfied with May’s behavior. It has not only
 81 XVI  |   Segmuller was plainly perplexed. May’s gay manner to which the
 82 XVII |           Ought he not to confront May, the Widow Chupin, and Polyte
 83 XVIII|             however momentous they may appear at the hour of their
 84 XVIII|            not merely the prisoner May, but also the Widow Chupin,
 85 XVIII|           to confess. The prisoner May’s manner was virtually unaltered;
 86 XVIII|          prisoners, no matter what may be the charges against them,
 87 XVIII|            To while away the time, May next asked for a volume
 88 XVIII|        during an entire fortnight, May was submitted to the scrutiny
 89 XVIII|    probably the man referred to in May’s story. This Tringlot had
 90 XVIII|           of the scrutiny to which May had been subjected, the
 91 XVIII|           mistaken. “The prisoner, May,” he wrote to the magistrate, “
 92 XVIII|         subject.” This message, it may be added, was sent at Gevrol’
 93 XVIII|         opinion, correct though it may be, is nothing in the balance
 94 XVIII|         thousand adversaries.~The “May affair” had soon become
 95 XVIII|       between the cell occupied by May and the roof of the prison,
 96 XVIII|     morning, just at the hour when May was taking his daily walk
 97 XVIII|        meals, execute any errand I may have, and relieve me at
 98 XVIII|         however strong his courage may be, he will have his moments
 99 XVIII|        said he.~“Misdirected as it may be,” growled Gevrol, who,
100 XVIII|          or twice across his cell, May took up his volume of Beranger
101 XVIII|   expectation he was disappointed. May tossed to and fro upon his
102 XVIII|  distributing the prisoner’s food, May invariably began to sing
103 XVIII|           morning he arranged that May should be taken on his walk
104 XVIII|           A thunderbolt falling in May’s cell would not have terrified
105 XVIII|     possible that the guilty party may be one of the prisoners
106 XVIII|     instance such is not the case; May is a prisoner, and he has
107 XVIII|           said he, “take care that May doesn’t discover his book
108 XVIII|            bet a hundred to one on May,” thought the smiling clerk.~
109 XIX  |       reply. “M. Gevrol and myself may have been mistaken: no one
110 XIX  |           he, sarcastically. “This May must be a very great and
111 XIX  |       three weeks that this fellow May has been under my charge!
112 XIX  |           of Beranger’s songs; and May, believing that he is addressing
113 XIX  |        prisoner was already awake. May was sitting on the foot
114 XIX  |           the quiver of an eyelid. May looked first at the window,
115 XIX  |          the interior of the cell. May was seated beside the table,
116 XIX  |            is not necessary,” said May, “I am, on the contrary,
117 XIX  |         gentlemen.”~“Speak, then.”~May did not wait for the injunction
118 XIX  |     profession matters little. One may, perhaps, act as the clown
119 XIX  |           some numbers on it which may mean something; but I have
120 XIX  |           s a cowardly act and one may get into trouble by doing
121 XIX  |          doubt whatever as to what May meant by the “something
122 XIX  |            am innocent,” continued May, in a sorrowful, reproachful
123 XIX  |    marvelous semblance of honesty, May’s gaze was frank and open,
124 XIX  |            expression. He motioned May to be silent; and, turning
125 XIX  |          sudden change passed over May’s features. “Ah! it is this
126 XIX  |       enough how to write to him.”~May’s features wore such an
127 XIX  |            did not seem to trouble May in the least. After expressing
128 XIX  |         and he would have remained May—the stroller, without any
129 XIX  |          work. His Father Absinthe may have served him in the first
130 XIX  |        condemned under the name of May. I will trouble myself no
131 XIX  |        hope to arrive at; though I may venture to say that in three
132 XIX  |          only given him so that we may surprise his secret.”~“I
133 XIX  |         don’t deceive myself, sir. May will guess the truth of
134 XIX  |       conclusion,” replied Lecoq, “May will find himself strangely
135 XIX  |            do to earn a living? He may struggle along for a while;
136 XIX  |        that moment arrives. Months may elapse, before, seeing no
137 XIX  |       signs of my surveillance, he may venture on some decisive
138 XIX  |         the last scene we had with May; and impudently declare
139 XIX  |            should be given to have May transferred to another prison.
140 XIX  |          doing with our mysterious May.”~“Then M. d’Escorval is
141 XIX  |           the authorities to allow May to be set at liberty; and
142 XIX  |           carried into effect, and May was removed to Mazas, where
143 XIX  |            Do you think, sir, that May will recognize me?”~“Monsieur
144 XIX  |           you are ready to release May, all my arrangements are
145 XX   |            as ——, in order that he may be brought before us in
146 XX   |           responsibility. Whatever may happen, his hands are clear.
147 XX   |        however, so that a prisoner may not escape during his journey
148 XX   |           lugubrious vehicles that may be often seen waiting on
149 XX   |           preparing everything for May’s escape, his only fear
150 XX   |      sending an order to Mazas for May to be despatched to the
151 XX   |           door of the “mouse-trap” May would purposely be forgotten
152 XX   |          although the van in which May would journey was not to
153 XX   |        leading to “la Souriciere.” May was inside, as Lecoq assured
154 XX   |        visible. It was the face of May. The prisoner cast a rapid
155 XX   |        been anxious without cause. May had fled; not thoughtlessly,
156 XX   |             But who could say that May would not be aided by his
157 XX   |           on the prisoner’s trail.~May had covered but a short
158 XX   |         not decide. At all events, May showed no signs of quickening
159 XX   | second-hand-clothes shop close by, May entered in evident haste.
160 XX   |         You told me this morning: ‘May without a sou’—that’s the
161 XX   |       moment afterward when he saw May emerge from the shop attired
162 XX   |           young detective’s favor.~May actually staggered when
163 XX   |          and yet, when he emerged, May and Father Absinthe were
164 XX   |          who was closely following May, should from time to time
165 XX   |         young detective murmured, “May’s going to this shop, and
166 XX   |            had succeeded in having May transferred to another prison;
167 XX   |          the accomplice had warned May of the attempt he was going
168 XX   |            the very evening before May’s removal to Mazas. Hence,
169 XX   |    suddenly ceased moralizing, for May had risen from his seat.
170 XX   |       prepare for his reception. I may be mistaken, however, and
171 XX   |            and at the thought that May might arrive at any moment
172 XX   |          will suffer for it.”~“You may rely upon me, sir,” replied
173 XX   |       arrival of a visitor. It was May. “I wish to speak to the
174 XX   |          has gone back to Alsace.”~May stamped his foot and uttered
175 XX   |           order me off,” exclaimed May. “I came to reclaim the
176 XX   |          money is never refunded.”~May uttered some incoherent
177 XX   |           his way, he dashed after May.~A vague fear almost suffocated
178 XX   |           confidential friend? Had May, then, guessed the trick
179 XX   |            immediately exclaimed: “May spoke to some one on his
180 XX   |            Milner’s house, so that May shan’t see her. I invent
181 XX   |         did not tell me to prevent May from speaking to the passers-by.”~“
182 XX   |       Which saw the other first?”~“May.”~“What did the woman say?
183 XX   |         whether Madame Milner gave May money or not?”~“I can’t
184 XX   |             She would declare that May met her and insisted that
185 XX   |           that same instant, as if May intended to convince Lecoq
186 XXI  |           de Mariembourg had given May money. There could be no
187 XXI  |          decide on the method that May was to employ with the view
188 XXI  |        lawful prey. The vender and May were evidently debating
189 XXI  |           impulse?”~Soon afterward May emerged into the street.
190 XXI  |       night on a deserted highway.~May seemed very well pleased
191 XXI  |            imprudent to do so, for May had settled his cap on his
192 XXI  |           like bees around a hive. May, however, took advantage
193 XXI  |           off at a rapid pace. But May was not inside. He had merely
194 XXI  |           an imaginary destination May slipped into an adjacent
195 XXI  |        this last stratagem—perhaps May believed that he was free.~
196 XXI  |           chalk-marks agreed upon.~May had instructed his driver
197 XXI  |       being crushed by the wheels. May was apparently reassured.
198 XXI  |            us keep our eyes open.”~May was now walking quite leisurely.
199 XXI  |            the logical sequence of May and Madame Milner’s chance
200 XXI  |     interview a few hours before?~“May,” thought Lecoq, “began
201 XXI  |           mask, it will be because May is not sure he has eluded
202 XXI  |           fears that Madame Milner may have been followed.”~The
203 XXI  |     disguise not unlike that which May and Lecoq had both adopted.
204 XXI  |     consist of this class.~And yet May, that man who was so strongly
205 XXI  |          to the conversation.~Soon May began talking in his turn;
206 XXI  |             and he offered to take May to his place at once. May’
207 XXI  |          May to his place at once. May’s only response was to rise,
208 XXI  |           Lecoq. “I am sure of it. May must have recognized me,
209 XXI  |         men came out of the house. May was jingling some coins
210 XXI  |          talking, and explained to May—as the detectives could
211 XXI  |       detective had ever imagined. May suddenly sprang on to his
212 XXI  |       distance separating him from May’s accomplice, and with three
213 XXI  |           sound might have reached May, on the other side of the
214 XXI  |           you will remain here. If May shows himself, capture him;
215 XXI  |         Father Absinthe to cut off May’s retreat.~“And now,” said
216 XXI  |          now seemed to him that if May had got into this garden,
217 XXI  |       repeated this order, and you may be sure that I haven’t disobeyed
218 XXI  | illuminated as by enchantment.~“If May is concealed here,” thought
219 XXI  |     gentlemen,” said he, “that you may spare yourselves the trouble
220 XXI  |      conceal his rage and despair. May escaped! vanished! evaporated!
221 XXI  |           battle yet. We have lost May; it is a great misfortune;
222 XXII |          Oh, I’m not mistaken; you may be quite sure of that. He
223 XXII |     through Lecoq’s mind.~“What if May and the Duc de Sairmeuse
224 XXII |         world, such as he supposed May to be, should know the day
225 XXII |            rid himself of pursuit, May had only had to invent a
226 XXIII|           I recollect: a man named May. The murders were committed
227 XXIII|      Poivriere to the instant when May leaped over the garden wall
228 XXIII|            none the less true that May has disappeared, and I have
229 XXIV |            M. d’Escorval knows who May really is.”~Old Tirauclair
230 XXIV |       think that M. d’Escorval and May are enemies?” inquired Lecoq.~“
231 XXIV |       betrayed his secret, that he may be able to keep it, and
232 XXIV |    information. I admit that a man may have a passion for his profession;
233 XXIV |      possession of the trunk which May pretended was his? Why you
234 XXIV |    influence induced you to follow May, step by step, like a common
235 XXIV |         know as well as I do, that May resides in the Rue de Grenelle-Saint-Germain,
236 XXIV |           murderer arrested there, May, the pretended buffoon,
237 XXV  |          distracted at having lost May, and when certain of Couturier’
238 XXV  |           two months—the period of May’s imprisonment, all Paris
239 XXV  |          my true character. And if May be really the Duc de Sairmeuse,