was no harm in taking another nap and waiting
until morning before beginning the inquiry. He had seen the murderer,
reported the case to the prefecture, and now he was coming--leisurely
enough--accompanied by two physicians, appointed by the authorities
to draw up a _medico-legal_ report in all such cases. The party also
comprised a sergeant-major of the 53d regiment of infantry of the line,
who had been summoned by the commissary to identify, if possible, the
murdered man who wore a uniform, for if one might believe the number
engraved upon the buttons of his overcoat, he belonged to the 53d
regiment, now stationed at the neighboring fort.

As the party approached it was evident that Inspector Gevrol was even
less disturbed than the commissary. He whistled as he walked along,
flourishing his cane, which never left his hand, and already laughing
in his sleeve over the discomfiture of the presumptuous fool who had
desired to remain to glean, where he, the experienced and skilful
officer, had perceived nothing. As soon as he was within speaking
distance, the inspector called to Father Absinthe, who, after warning
Lecoq, remained on the threshold, leaning against the door-post, puffing
his pipe, as immovable as a sphinx.

"Ah, well, old man!" cried Gevrol, "have you any great melodrama, very
dark and very mysterious, to relate to us?"

"I have nothing to relate myself," replied the old detective, without
even drawing his pipe from his lips, "I am too stupid, that is perfectly
understood. But Monsieur Lecoq will tell you something that will
astonish you."

The prefix, "monsieur," which the old police agent used in speaking
of his colleague, displeased Gevrol so much that he pretended not to
understand. "Who are you speaking of?" he asked abruptly.

"Of my colleague, of course, who is now busy finishing his report--of
Monsieur Lecoq." Quite unintentionally, the worthy fellow had certainly
become the young police agent's godfather. From that day forward,
for his enemies as well as for his friends, he was and he remained
"Monsieur" Lecoq.

"Ah! ah!" said the inspector, whose hearing was evidently impaired. "Ah,
he has discovered--"

"The pot of roses which others did not scent, General." By this remark,
Father Absinthe made an enemy of his superior officer. But he cared
little for that: Lecoq had become his deity, and no matter what the
future might reserve, the old veteran had resolved to follow his young
colleague'