# II explained — Monsieur Lecoq

> Chapter companion for Monsieur Lecoq by Émile Gaboriau.

## What happens

Lecoq, a young and ambitious police agent, is introduced. He is left by Gevrol to investigate a triple murder at the Poivrière. Lecoq selects the dull-witted Father Absinthe as his assistant and demonstrates his deductive skills by interpreting a cryptic phrase uttered by the suspect, revealing the man's education and the allusion to the Battle of Waterloo. Lecoq is determined to uncover the mystery behind the apparent crime.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deduction and Scientific Observation

Lecoq demonstrates his deductive method by analyzing the suspect's words and drawing conclusions about his education and intentions, contrasting with Gevrol's superficial approach.

### Appearance vs. Reality

The chapter emphasizes that the crime scene and the suspect's apparent low status may conceal a deeper truth, as Lecoq suspects the murder is not what it seems.

### Ambition and Professional Rivalry

Lecoq's ambition to prove himself and surpass Gevrol's judgment drives his investigation, and he seeks to claim the reward for solving the mystery.

## Character check-ins

### Monsieur Lecoq

A young police agent, about 25-26, with a good education and a history of hardship. He is determined to solve the mystery at the Poivrière and shows keen observational skills.

### Father Absinthe

An older, dull-witted police agent chosen by Lecoq as an assistant. He is initially sleepy and skeptical but becomes convinced by Lecoq's reasoning.

### Gevrol

Inspector Gevrol abandons the investigation at the Poivrière, leaving it to Lecoq. He is mentioned as having gone to fetch the commissary.

### Joseph Couturier

The arrested suspect, a young man who utters the phrase 'It is the Prussians who are coming,' which Lecoq interprets as an allusion to the Battle of Waterloo.

## Key lines

> He was some twenty-five or twenty-six years of age, almost beardless, very pale, with red lips, and an abundance of wavy black hair.

Lecoq is a young man in his mid-twenties, with a pale complexion, red lips, and thick black curly hair, and he has little facial hair.

_Physical description of Lecoq at the start of the chapter._

> When one has your disposition, and is poor, one may either become a famous thief or a great detective. Choose.

The astronomer tells Lecoq that his talents could lead him to a life of crime or a career in detection, giving him a choice.

_The astronomer's advice that sets Lecoq on his path as a detective._

> Now the mystery belongs to us two alone!

Lecoq exclaims that he and Father Absinthe are the only ones left to solve the case.

_Lecoq's triumphant declaration after Gevrol leaves._

> It is the Prussians who are coming.

The suspect says that the Prussians are arriving, which Lecoq interprets as an allusion to the Battle of Waterloo.

_The key phrase uttered by the suspect that Lecoq uses to deduce his education and intentions._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/monsieur_lecoq_se/chapters/ii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/monsieur_lecoq_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/monsieur_lecoq_se/chapters