nly rushing to the door of his cell, and hammering upon it with
clenched fists, he cried at the top of his voice: "Here! keeper! here!"

"What do you want?" shouted a turnkey, whose footsteps Lecoq could hear
hastening along the adjoining passage.

"I wish to speak to the magistrate."

"Very well. He shall be informed."

"Immediately, if you please. I have a revelation to make."

"He shall be sent for immediately."

Lecoq waited to hear no more. He tore down the narrow staircase leading
from the loft, and rushed to the Palais de Justice to acquaint M.
Segmuller with what had happened.

"What can all this mean?" he wondered as he darted over the pavement.
"Are we indeed approaching a denouement? This much is certain, the
prisoner was not deceived by my note. He could only decipher it with
the aid of his volume of Beranger, and he did not even touch the book;
plainly, then, he hasn't read the letter."

M. Segmuller was no less amazed than the young detective. They both
hastened to the prison, followed by the smiling clerk, who was the
magistrate's inevitable shadow. On their way they encountered the
governor of the Depot, arriving all in a flutter, having been greatly
excited by that important word "revelation." The worthy official
undoubtedly wished to express an opinion, but the magistrate checked him
by the abrupt remark, "I know all about it, and I am coming."

When they had reached the narrow corridor leading to the secret cells,
Lecoq passed on in advance of the rest of the party. He said to himself
that by stealing upon the prisoner unawares he might possibly find him
engaged in surreptitiously reading the note. In any case, he would have
an opportunity to glance at the interior of the cell. May was seated
beside the table, his head resting on his hands. At the grating of the
bolt, drawn by the governor himself, the prisoner rose to his feet,
smoothed his hair, and remained standing in a respectful attitude,
apparently waiting for the visitors to address him.

"Did you send for me?" inquired the magistrate.

"Yes, sir."

"You have, I understand, some revelation to make to me."

"I have something of importance to tell you."

"Very well! these gentlemen will retire."

M. Segmuller had already turned to Lecoq and the governor to request
them to withdraw, when the prisoner motioned him not to do so.

"It is not necessary," said May, "I am, on the contrary, very well
pleased to speak before these gent