ut never could get one to speak."

The detective was so indignant and acrimonious withal in his
indignation, that Andre could not repress a smile.

"Very soon," continued Lecoq, "I recognized the futility of my attempts,
and the impossibility of reaching these scoundrels through their
victims, and then I determined to strike at the plunderers themselves,
but this was a scheme that took patience and time. I have waited my
chance for three years, and for eighteen months one of my men has been
in the service of the Marquis de Croisenois, and up to now this band
of villains has cost the government over ten thousand francs. That
superlative scoundrel, Mascarin, has put several white threads in my
hair. I believe him to be Tantaine; yes, and Martin Rigal too. The idea
of there being a means of communication between the banker's house
in the Rue Montmartre and the Servants' Registry Office in the Rue
Montorgueil only came into my head this morning. But this time they
have gone too far, and I have them. I know them all, from the chief,
Mascarin-Tantaine-Rigal, down to their lowest agent, Toto Chupin, and
Paul Violaine, the docile puppet of their will. We will get hold of the
whole gang, and neither Van Klopen nor Catenac will escape. Just now the
latter is travelling about with the Duke de Champdoce and a fellow named
Perpignan, and two of my sweet lads are close upon them, and send in
almost hourly reports of what is going on. My trap has a tempting bait,
the spring is strong, and we shall catch every one of them. And now do
you still hesitate to confide all you know to me? I swear on my honor
that I will respect as sacred what you tell me, no matter what may
occur."

Andre yielded, as did every person who came under the influence of this
remarkable man and his strange and inexplicable fascination. If he
hid anything from him to-day, would not Lecoq be acquainted with it
to-morrow? And so, with the most perfect frankness, he told his story
and everything that he knew.

"Now," cried Lecoq, "I see it all clearly. Aha, they want to force young
Gandelu to disappear with Rose, do they?"

Beneath his gold-rimmed spectacles his eyes flashed fiercely. He seemed
to be occupied in drawing out his plan of campaign.

"From this moment," said he, "be at ease. In another month Mademoiselle
de Mussidan shall be your wife; this I promise you, and the promises of
Lecoq are never broken."

He paused for an instant, as though to collect