he wicket of the latter's cell.

Invited by the magistrate to recount the circumstances of the tragedy,
Mother Chupin did not hesitate for a moment. "Oh, it was a very simple
affair, my good sir," she began. "I was sitting by my fireside on Sunday
evening, when suddenly the door opened, and three men and two women came
in."

M. Segmuller and the young detective exchanged glances. The accomplice
had evidently seen Lecoq and his comrade examining the footprints, and
accordingly the presence of the two women was not to be denied.

"What time was this?" asked the magistrate.

"About eleven o'clock."

"Go on."

"As soon as they sat down they ordered a bowl of wine, a la Frangaise.
Without boasting, I may say that I haven't an equal in preparing that
drink. Of course, I waited on them, and afterward, having a blouse to
mend for my boy, I went upstairs to my room, which is just over the
shop."

"Leaving the people alone?"

"Yes, my judge."

"That showed a great deal of confidence on your part."

The widow sadly shook her head. "People as poor as I am don't fear the
thieves," she sighed.

"Go on--go on."

"Well, I had been upstairs about half an hour, when I heard some one
below call out: 'Eh! old woman!' So I went down, and found a tall,
big-bearded man, who had just come in. He asked for a glass of brandy,
which I brought to a table where he had sat down by himself."

"And then did you go upstairs again?" interrupted the magistrate.

The exclamation was ironical, of course, but no one could have told from
the Widow Chupin's placid countenance whether she was aware that such
was the case.

"Precisely, my good sir," she replied in the most composed manner. "Only
this time I had scarcely taken up my needle when I heard a terrible
uproar in the shop. I hurried downstairs to put a stop to it--but heaven
knows my interference would have been of little use. The three men who
had come in first of all had fallen upon the newcomer, and they were
beating him, my good sir, they were killing him. I screamed. Just then
the man who had come in alone drew a revolver from his pocket; he fired
and killed one of his assailants, who fell to the ground. I was so
frightened that I crouched on the staircase and threw my apron over
my head that I might not see the blood run. An instant later Monsieur
Gevrol arrived with his men; they forced open the door, and behold--"

The Widow Chupin here stopped short. These wretched old wom