" Evidently further doubt was impossible after this
evidence, which confirmed the truth of Lecoq's first remark to Inspector
Gevrol.
"Still, if this person was a civilian, how could he have procured this
clothing?" insisted the commissary. "Could he have borrowed it from the
men in your company?"
"Yes, that is possible; but it is difficult to believe."
"Is there no way by which you could ascertain?"
"Oh! very easily. I have only to run over to the fort and order an
inspection of clothing."
"Do so," approved the commissary; "it would be an excellent way of
getting at the truth."
But Lecoq had just thought of a method quite as convincing, and much
more prompt. "One word, sergeant," said he, "isn't cast off military
clothing sold by public auction?"
"Yes; at least once a year, after the inspection."
"And are not the articles thus sold marked in some way?"
"Assuredly."
"Then see if there isn't some mark of the kind on this poor wretch's
uniform."
The sergeant turned up the collar of the coat and examined the
waist-band of the pantaloons. "You are right," he said, "these are
condemned garments."
The eyes of the young police agent sparkled. "We must then believe that
the poor devil purchased this costume," he observed. "Where? Necessarily
at the Temple, from one of the dealers in military clothing. There are
only five or six of these establishments. I will go from one to another
of them, and the person who sold these clothes will certainly recognize
them by some trade mark.
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