Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 10 — page 19: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

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Sd (umn eee ee eae wm . . o - -_~ ——- — =. - oe ee we — ° ——s € Vidocq, the Fre —— — - -- ee — ee eee at the extremity of one of the wards; the opportunity for Italian gate, but no one. was allowed to go out without a # disyuise was admirable, and I hastened to complete it; and, in my new costume J went straightto the door, I had to pass through acrowd of argousins, but I ventured boldly and none of them appeared to pay any attention to me, and | already thought myself out of danger, when I heard scry, “Stop him, stop him; a prisoner has escaped!” I was not more than twenty steps from the arsenal, and, without losing my. presence of mind, I redoubled my speed, and, having got to the door, I said to the guard, pointing to a person who was just entering the city, ** Run with me, he has escaped from the hospital.” This would, perhaps, have saved me; but,, just aa I Beppe over the wicket, I was seized by the wig, and on turn’pg round, saw M. l’Homme; resistance would have been certain death; and I therefore quictly fellowed him back to the Bagne, where I was put to the double chain It was evident that | was to undergo punishment, and to avoid it, I cast myself on my knees before the commissary, saying ‘Oh, sir, do notlet me be beaten; that is the only favor [ask; I would rather undergo three years’ additional confinement.” The commissary, however touching my petition might have been, could not keep his countenance; hut told me, that he would pardon me on account of my boldness and ingenuity, on condition that I would point out the person who had procured me the disguise, ‘* You must be aware,’ I replied to him, “ that the ple who vuard us are wretches, who will do anything for money, ut nothing in the world shall induce me to betray those who serve me.”” Pleased with my frankness, he ordered me to be released from the double chain; and when the argousin murmured at so much indulgence, he desired him to be silent, adding, ‘*‘ You ought to like, rather than be angry with him, for he has just given you a lesson, which you would do well to profit by.’ I thanked the commissioner, and the next moment wae conducted to the fatal bench to which I was to be. fastened. for the next six years. I then flattered myself with the hopes of returning to my trade of toy-mukiug, but father Mathieu refusing me, lL. was compelled unwillingly to remain un- employed. Two mouths elapsed without any change in my circumstances, when one night, being unable to sleep, there flashed through my brain one of those luminous ideas which only occur in darkness, Jossas was awake, and I mentioned it to him. It may be surmised that he was always intent on effecting his escape, and he thought {t admirably wonderful as I had devised it, and begged me not to fail to putting it into execution. It will be seen that I did not neglect his advice. One morning, the commis- sary of the Bagne going his rounds, passed near me, and I begged leave to speak to him in private, ‘‘ Whatdo you want?’ said the. ‘‘Have you any complaint to make? Speak, my man; speak out, and will do you. justice.” Encouraged by the kindness of this language, T said, “ Good or you see before you a second example of an hon- est criminal, You may perhaps remember that on coming here, 1 iold you that I was put in my brother's place. 1do not accuse him; I am even roe at thinking he was ignorant of the crime imputed to him; but it was he, who, under my name, was condemned by the courtat Doual; he escaped from the Bagne at Brest, and now, having reached Englund, he is free, and I, the victim of a sad mistake, must snbmit to punishment. Alas! how fatal to me has been our resemblance! “Without this circumstance, 1 should not have been taken to Bicétre; the keeper would not have sworn to my persou. In vain I have besged for an inguiry; % is beca se their testimony has been received, that an klentity is allowed which does not exist. But the erro. is consummated, and I have much to be- wai!! I know that it is not with you to alter a decision from which theve is no appeal, but it is a favor you ver grant to me: to be sure of me, I am placed in a cell with suspected men, where I am with a herd of robbers, assas- sins, and hardened ruffians, At every moment I tremble at the recital of crimes which have been committed, as well as at the hopes of those who are plotiing others, to be perpetrated the moment, if it eyer arrives, they shal: get free from their fetters. Ah! I beg you, in the name of every sentiment.of humanity, to leave me no longer amongst a set of such abandoned miscreants. Put me in a dunveon, load me with chains, do with me whatever ro will, but donot leave me any longer with them. If I ve endeavored to escape, it has been only that I might et away from such a sink of infamy, (At this moment I urned towards the convicts.) You may see, sir. how ferociously they gaze at me; they already prepare to make me repent of what Lam saylug to you; they pant they burn, to bathe their hands in my blood; once more conjure you, do not give me up to the vengeance of these atrocious monsters. ’ During this. discourse, the convicts were petrified with astonishment; they could not conceive that one of their comrades would thus npbraid them in their very teeth: the commissary himself did not Know what to think of such a step; he was silent, and I saw that I had touched him deeply Then throwing mysell at his feet, with tears in my eyes, I ca “Pity me; if you refuse me, if you go without removifig me from this room, you shall never see me again,”’ These words produced the desired effect. The commissary, who was a worthy man, had me un- loosed in his presence, and gave orders that I should be placed with the working convicts. I was yoked with a man named Salesse, a Gascon, as knavish as a convict may be. The first time we were alone, he asked me if I intended to escape. “ [ have no thoughts of it,” replied i “T am. but aie ga that they allow me to work.”” Bnt Jossis possessed my secret, and he arranged all for my escape. I hada plain dress which I concealed under my gauey clothes without, the knowledge even of my yoke- eliow,. A moving screw had supplied the place of the rivet in my fetters, and I was ready to start, The third day after gotbe, my companions I went out to labor, and resented myself before the argousin; “ Get along, ood- or-nought,”’ suid father Mathieu, ‘it is not time.’ was in the rope-room, and the pase appeared propitious. I told my companion that I had a call of nature, and. he pointed out some pieces of woud behind which I could yo, and he was scarcely out of sight, when throwing off my red shirt, and taking out the screw, I ran towards the batin. The frigate la Meuron was then under repair, wich had brought Buonaparte and his suite from Egypt. I wen: oa board and asked for the master carpenter, wheel I knew to be in the hospital. _The cook, whom I ac- costed, took me for one of the new crew. I was rejoiced at ayes and to confirm the idea, as I knew him to bea mar of Auvergne, by his »ccent, I began conversing with him 10 his own provincial dialect, and in a tone of much assurance, although I was vn thorns the whole time; for furty couples of convicts were at work close to us. They miglit recognize me in a moment, cargo soon set oO for the town, and I ee beg into the boat, when, seizing an oar, I rowed away like an old sailor, and we soon Toulerm. Anxious to reach the country.I went to the green card given by the magistrates, and I was refused egress, and whilst [ was thinking how I could get out, I heard the three reports of the cannon which announced iny escape, At,this moment a tremor pervaded all my limbs; already did I see myself in the power of the ar- gousins, and all the police of the Bagne, I pictured_my- self in présence of the excellent commissary, whom I had 80 basely deeeived. If I were taken I must be lost. These sad reflections coming over me, 1 walked away in haste, and that I might avoid a crowd, betook myself to the Tamparts. On reaching a solitary spot, I walked very slowly, like a man who, not knowing whither to bend his steps, is full of consideration, when a female accosted me, and asked me in provincial French what the hour was; J told her that I did not know, and she then began talking of the syeather, and concluded by asking me to accompsny her } | home, it is only a few yards hence, she added, and no one will see us. The opportunity of finding a place of refuge was too. propitious to be refused, and 1 followed my con- ductresa to a sort of small inn, when I sent for some re- freshment. Whilst we were. conversing, together, three other cannon shota were heard. ‘‘ Ah,” cried the girl, with an air of satisfaction, there Is a second escape to day.” .“ What!" said I. “‘ iny Jags; does that please you? Should not you [ike to get the reward?’ “Il, why you cannot Know much of me.” “ Bah, bah,” I ‘replied, “fifty france are .always worth earning, and if I swear to .you' that if:.one of these fellows fall into my clutches ——."" “You are a wretch!” she said, mak- ing.a gesture of indignation. “I am only a_ poor girl, but Celestine would meyer eat the bread earned by means so dcspicable.”” At these words, pro- nounced with an accent of truth, which left no doubt on my mind of her sincerity, I did not hesitate to confide my secret to her. As soon a8 I had informed her that l wus a convict, cannot express Low much. she appeared interested in my fate. ‘‘Mon Dien!” she said, “ they are s0 much to be pitied; I, wonld save thein all, and have already saved many;”’ then, after pausing for an instant, as if to consider. ‘“ Let me manage it,’” she then added; ‘“IT have a lover who has a green card, I will borrow it from him, and you shall use it, and, once out of the city, you can deposit it under a stone which I will point out to you, and in the interim, as we are not in security here, I will take you to my apartment."’ On reaching this, she told me that she must leave'me fora moment. ‘‘] must tell. my. lover,’’ said she, ‘‘and will. speedily return.” Women are soinetimes most admirable actrésses, and, in spite of her kind. protestations, I feared aome treachery. erhaps Celestine was going te denounce me; she had not reached the street when Iran down the staircase. ‘Well, well,” cried the girl, “‘do not fear. If you mistrust me, come along with me.” I thought it most prudent to watch lier, and we walked away tovether, whither 1 knew not. Scarcely had we gone ten yards when we meta funeral procession, ‘‘ Follow, the burisl,*’ said my pro- tectress, ‘and you will escape; and before I had time to thank her, she disappeared. The followers were num- erous, and I mixed amonyst the crowd of assistants, and that I might not be. thought a stranger at the ceremony, I entered into conversation with an old sailor, from whose communications I soon learnt how to utter afew well- timed remarks on the virtucs of the defunct. I was soon convinced that Celestine had not betrayed me. When I left the ramparts behind me, which it had been of such paramount Pena forme to pass, I almost wept for joy; but that I might not betray myself, I still kept up a strain of suitable entations. On, reaching the cemetery I advanced in my turn to the edge of tae crave, and after having cast a handful of earth on the. coffin, L separated from the company by taking a circuitots ‘path. 1 Walked on for many hours without losing sight.of Toulon, and abont five o'clock in the evening, just as I was centering a grove of firs, I saw a mah armed with a gun. As he was well-clad, and had a ame-bag, my first thought was that he was a huntsmen; ut observing. the butt of,a pistol projecting from his gitdle, I feared that I had met with one of those Proven- gals, who, at the sound of the cannon, always scour the cou. try in search of the ronawa galley-siaves. If my fears were just, fight was unavailing; and it was perhaps best to advance rather than retreat. This I did, and on approaching him sufficiently close to be on ay Seni in cae oe should show any hostilities, I ask e road to AIx. **Do you want the high-road or the by-way?" said he, with peculiar emphasis. “Oh, either, no matter which;” I answered; hoping by my indifference to remove his suspicions, ‘Tn that case, follow this path, it Jeads to the station of the gendarmes; and if you do not like traveling alone, you can avail yourself of the escort.” At the word “ gendarmes *’ I turned pale, and the stran- ger, perceiving the effect his words. had produced, added ‘Come, come; I see you are not over anxions to travel on the highway, Well, if you are not in a very great hurry, I will conduct you the village of Pouriéres, which is not two leagues from Aix.” He scemed so well acquainted with the localities, that I availed myself of his offer, and consented to follow him: Then, without stirring, he pointed out a’clamp of bushes, where he bid me await his joining me. Two hours passed before he finished his guard, and he then came to me, ‘Get up,” said he. I side ge and when I thought myself in the thickest of the wood, I fonnd myself at the borders of it, About fifty paces from a house, in front of which were seated several gendarmes. At ‘the sight of their uniforms, I started. *‘ What ails you man?” asked my guide! “do you think I would betray you? If yow fear anything, take these and defend yourself; at the same time offering me his pistols, which I refused. “* Well, well;”? he added, and squeezed my h@od, to testify how miich he was satisfied with my confidence. Concealed by the bushes which skirted our path, we stopped. I could not comprehend the motive of a halt #0 near the enemy. Our stay. was protracted til! nightfall | when we saw approaching from Toulon a mail, esco by four gendarmes, who were relieved by the same num- ber from the brigade whose vicinity had so much @larmed me. The mail proceeded on its journey, and was soon out of sight. companion then taking my arm, said in ne under-tone, ‘Let us start, nothing can be done to- si We then walked away in an opposite direction for bout an hour, and m ide going up to a t Plasped the trunk fi bis hand and 11 a ting the number of notches cut by 1 ree if im was counting the xy a knife— * Good, pa oa he ejaculated with an air of satisfaction: which was to me inexplicable, and taking from his me- bag a piece of bread, which he divided with me, he titer gave mea bottle, whence I drank with pleasure The collation eould aot have been more for | wae neh Police Spy. 19 in wautof something to recruit my strencth. In spite of the darkness, we walked so fast that I was tired. and my feet, long unused to exercise, had become so painful that { was going to declare it impossible for me to proceed farther, when a village clock struck three. “Gently, said my guide, stooping and placing his earon the cround; “do as 1 do, and listen; with this cursed Polish jevion One must be alwayson the watch. Did yor hear noth ing?" freplied that Ithonght [ heard the fuotsteps of a body of men. “Yes,” he added, “it is they; stir rot’on your life, or we shall be taken.” He had scarcely spoken, when s patrol guard came towards the thicket in which we were concealed. “Did you see anything, you fel- emt said some one in a low tone. “ Nothing, Ber geant.”’ | ‘“Parblen! I thonght so; it is ee dark as an oven: This devil of a Roman, whom heaven's thunders crash! To make us travel all night like wolvesin a wood! Ah, if ever I find him, or any of his gang!” a Hy vive? (who goes there)’ cried a soldier, suddenly, ‘What do you see?”’ said the serjeant.—‘*‘‘Nothing; but I heard a breathing on this side,’ and he indicated the spot where we were. “ Stuff! you are dreaming. You are so much alarmed about Roman, that you think that you always have him in your cartridge-box.” Two other soldiers asserted that they had heard the — ee me wee ee ee eee é. “Hold your tongues,” replied the sergeant. ‘I see there is nobody, and we must once more, according to custom, return to Ponriéres without having tra ped our game. Come, my lads, it is time to be off.” The patrol seemed disposed to retreat, ‘It is a ruse de querre,’’ said my companion. “IT know they will beat the wood and return upon us in # semicircle.” It was now necessary that I should be firm and’ com posed.” “ Are you fearful?” said my guide. * This is no time for fear,’ I replied. “ Well, then, follow me; here are my pistols; when 1 fire, do you the same, so that the four shots only sound like one report: Now, fire.” The four shots were fired, and we then ran with all speed, without being pursned. The fear of falling into ean ambuscade had made the soldiers come to a halt; but we did not pense from our flight. On getting near an iso- lated hut, the stranger said to me, “It is now daylight, and we are safe;’’ and then leaping the ae of the gar- den, he took a key from the hollow t of a tree, and opening the door of the cot we immediately entered. An iron lamp, placed on the mantel-piece, lighted ap-s plain and rustic apartment. I only observed in a corner & barrel, containing, as I thought, gennpowder, and near it on 4 ehelf was & quantity of gun-cartridges. A woman's attire placed on a chair with one of those large black hate worn by the provencal peasants, indicated the presence of a sleeping femule, whose heavy breathing reached our ears, Whilst I threw a rapid glance about me, my guide produced from an old trunk a quarter ofa kid, some’on- ions, oll, and a bottle of wine: he invited me to partake of a repast, of which I felt in the greatest need: He seemed very desirons of aad Sat me, but I ate with so much aan that I believe he felt a scruple of con- science in Interrupting me. WhenTI had finished, which was not whilst anything remained on the table, he led me to a sort of loft, sent eivy me that I was in perfect safety, and then left me before I could ask if he was going’ to stay In the hut; but scarcely had I stretched myself out on the straw when @ heavy sleep took possession of all facnities. "When I awoke I judged by the height of the sun that dt was two o'clock. A female peasant, doubtless the same whose apparel I had seen, warned by my movementa, showed her head at the opening of the door of my gar ret.—** Do not stir,” said she in a provengal dialect, “ the environg are full of sapins (gendarmes) who are examin- ing every place.” I did not know what she meant by “gapins,”’ but T guessed that it did not refer to anything very propitious forme. . At twilight I saw my new friend of the previous ever ing, who, ufter some trifling conversation, asked’me —- blank who I. was, whence I came, and whither Twas gone Prepared for these unavoiduble » Sore I re plied that I was a deserter from the ship Ocean, then im the roudstead at Toulon, that I was going to Aix, whence I he Red to get to my own country. That is all very good,” said my host. “Isee who you are; but do you know who I am? “Pfaith, to tell the honest truth, I first took you for s patrol; afterwards I took you for a leader of smugglera— and now I do not know what to think.” ‘“* You shall know, then. In our country we are brave enough, you see, but object to be made soldiers on com- pulsion—so we did not comply with the requisition when we could do anything to avoid it. The quota selected in Pouriéres even refused to march at all when called upon The gendarmes came to compel the refractory, and they resisted. Men were killed on both sides: and all the townsemen who participated in the affray betook them- Belves'to the woods to escape a court-martial. We thas met, Sixty Jn number, under the orders of M- Roman and the brothers Bisson de Tretz: if you like to remain with us I shail be glad, for last night's experience tells me that you area man of mould;and lL adviee you not to bein any fear about gendarmes. Besides, we want for nothing, and ron but little risk. The per Ae or inform us of ajl that + sae and give us provisions. Oome, will you join us?” : ldid not ju