“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 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.”