"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 gentlemen."
"Speak, then."
May did not wait for the injunction to be repeated. Throwing his
chest forward, and his head back as had been his wont throughout his
examinations, whenever he wished to make an oratorical display, he
began as follows: "It shall be for you to say, gentlemen, whether I'm an
honest man or not. The profession matters little. One may, perhaps, act
as the clown of a traveling show, and yet be an honest man--a man of
honor."
"Oh, spare us your reflections!"
"Very well, sir, that suits me exactly. To be brief, then here is a
little paper which was thrown into my cell a few minutes ago. There are
some numbers on it which may mean something; but I have examined them,
and they are quite Greek to me."
He paused, and then handing Lecoq's missive to the magistrate, quietly
added: "It was rolled up in a bit of bread."
This declaration was so unexpected, that it struck all the officials
dumb with surprise, but the prisoner, without seeming to notice the
effect he had produced, placidly continued: "I suppose the person who
threw it, made a mistake in the window.
Pages:
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288