Soon afterward May emerged into the street.  His appearance was decidedly changed, for he wore a pair of dark blue linen trousers, of the type French “navvies” habitually affect, and a loosely fitting coat of rough woolen material.  A gay silk ’kerchief was knotted about his throat, and a black silk cap was set on one side of his head.  Thus attired, he was scarcely more prepossessing in appearance than Lecoq, and one would have hesitated before deciding which of the two it would be preferable to meet at night on a deserted highway.

May seemed very well pleased with his transformation, and was evidently more at ease in his new attire.  On leaving the shop, however, he glanced suspiciously around him, as if to ascertain which of the passers-by were watching his movements.  He had not parted with his broadcloth suit, but was carrying it under his arm, wrapped up in a handkerchief.  The only thing he had left behind him was his tall chimney-pot hat.

Lecoq would have liked to enter the shop and make some inquiries, but he felt that it would be imprudent to do so, for May had settled his cap on his head with a gesture that left no doubt as to his intentions.  A second later he turned into the Rue du Temple, and now the chase began in earnest; for the fugitive proved as swift and agile as a stag, and it was no small task to keep him well in sight.  He had no doubt lived in England and Germany, since he spoke the language of these countries like a native; but one thing was certain—­he knew Paris as thoroughly as the most expert Parisian.

This was shown by the way in which he dashed into the Rue des Gravelliers, and by the precision of his course through the many winding streets that lie between the Rue du Temple and the Rue Beaubourg.  He seemed to know this quarter of the capital by heart; as well, indeed, as if he had spent half his life there.  He knew all the wine-shops communicating with two streets—­all the byways, passages, and tortuous alleys.  Twice he almost escaped his pursuers, and once his salvation hung upon a thread.  If he had remained in an obscure corner, where he was completely hidden, only an instant longer, the two detectives would have passed him by and his safety would have been assured.

The pursuit presented immense difficulties.  Night was coming on, and with it that light fog which almost invariably accompanies a spring sunset.  Soon the street-lamps glimmered luridly in the mist, and then it required a keen eyesight indeed to see even for a moderate distance.  And, to add to this drawback, the streets were now thronged with workmen returning home after their daily toil, and with housewives intent on purchasing provisions for the evening meal, while round about each dwelling there congregated its numerous denizens swarming like bees around a hive.  May, however, took advantage of every opportunity to mislead the persons who might be following him.  Groups collected around some cheap-jack’s stall, street accidents, a block of vehicles—­everything was utilized by him with such marvelous presence of mind that he often glided through the crowd without leaving any sign of his passage.