# XX explained — Monsieur Lecoq

> Chapter companion for Monsieur Lecoq by Émile Gaboriau.

## What happens

Lecoq and Father Absinthe shadow the escaped prisoner May through Paris, observing his failed attempts to sell his clothes and his growing desperation. Lecoq deduces that May's accomplice has been cut off, leaving the fugitive isolated and resourceful.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deduction and Scientific Observation

Lecoq's meticulous observation of May's behavior and his deductive reasoning about the accomplice's plans drive the chapter.

### Deception and Disguise

May's attempt to change his appearance by selling his clothes and Lecoq's own disguise as a loafer highlight the theme of deception.

## Character check-ins

### Monsieur Lecoq

Leads the pursuit, analyzing May's every move and strategizing to keep him separated from his accomplice.

### Father Absinthe

Assists Lecoq in the chase, marking May's path with chalk and offering suggestions.

### Joseph Couturier

Referred to as 'May,' the escaped prisoner being shadowed; he attempts to sell his clothes but fails.

### Madame Milner

Mentioned as a possible accomplice who met May earlier; Lecoq suspects she gave him money.

### M. Segmuller

The magistrate to whom Lecoq sends an urgent letter during the chase.

## Key lines

> “If they would only arrest this woman and question her,” suggested Father Absinthe. “What good would it do? Hasn’t M. Segmuller examined and cross-examined her a dozen times without drawing anything from her! Ah! she’s a cunning one.”

Father Absinthe proposes arresting Madame Milner, but Lecoq dismisses the idea, noting that Segmuller has already interrogated her repeatedly without success.

_Highlights Lecoq's strategic thinking and his respect for the accomplice's cunning._

> “The moral of this is, that there’s a vast difference between theory and practise,” he remarked. “Here’s a fellow who has made some most discerning men believe that he’s only a poor devil, a low buffoon. Well, now he’s free; and this so-called Bohemian doesn’t even know how to go to work to sell the clothes on his back.”

Lecoq observes that May, despite his convincing act as a poor vagabond, fails at the practical task of selling his clothes, revealing his true background as a wealthy man.

_Illustrates Lecoq's deduction about May's social class and the gap between performance and reality._

## Links

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