“Lecoq!” exclaimed Martial, paler than death.
“Lecoq, yes, Monsieur,” replied the young detective. “I was obliged to take my revenge; my future depended upon it, and I ventured to imitate Monsieur d’Escorval’s writing.”
And as Martial made no response:
“I must also say to Monsieur le Duc,” he continued, “that on transmitting to the judge the confession written by the Duke’s own hand, of his presence at the Poivriere, I can and shall, at the same time, furnish proofs of his entire innocence.”
And to show that he was ignorant of nothing, he added:
“As madame is dead, there will be nothing said in regard to what took place at the Borderie.”
A week later a verdict of not guilty was rendered by M. Segmuller in the case of the Duc de Sairmeuse.
Appointed to the position he coveted, Lecoq had the good taste, or perhaps the shrewdness, to wear his honors modestly.
But on the day of his promotion, he ordered a seal, upon which was engraved the exultant rooster, which he had chosen as his armorial design, and a motto to which he ever remained faithful: Semper Vigilan.