Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 10 — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

Se Vidocq, the French Police Spy. + eee te Oe ee I could doubt no longer; the wretch who had heaped so much misery on my head was about to suffer on the scaf- fold. Shall I confess that I felt a sentiment of joy, and yet I trembled? Tormented again, and agitated with a perpetually renewing uneasiness, I would have destroyed all the population of the prisons and Bagnes, who having been the means of casting me into the abyss of misery, had kept me there by their vile disclosures. It will not excite wonder, when I say that I ran with haste to the palace of justice to assure myself of the truth; it was now . mid siey and I had great trouble in reaching the grating ear which I fixed myself, waiting for the fatal moment. A‘ \ast four o'clock struck, and the wicket opened. A nan appeared first on the stage. It was Herbaux. His face was covered with a deadly paleness, while he affected a firmness which the convulsive workings of his features belied. He pretended to talk to his ag neue ‘who was already incapacitated from hearing ‘thee the signal of departure, He:banx, with a countenance into which he infused all the audacity he could force, gazed round on the crowd, and his eyes met mine. He started, and the blood rushed to his face. The procession passed on, and I remained as motionless as the bronze railings on which I was leaning; and I should probably have remained longer, if an inspector of the palace had not desired me to come away. Twenty minutes afterwards a car laden with a red basket, and escorted by a gendarme, was hurried over the Pont-au-Change, going towards the ae eee allotted for felons. hen, with an op- 8 feeling at my heart, I went away, and regained lodginjs, full of sorrowful reflections. have since learnt, that during his detention at the Bicétre, Herbaux had expressed his regret at having been instrumental in getting me condemned, when innocent. The crime which had brought this wretch to the scaffold was a murder committed in company with Saint Leger, on a lady of the Place Dauphine. These two villains had obtained access to their victim under pe of giving ber tidings of her son, whom they said they had seen in the army. Although, in fact, Herbaux's execution could not have any direct influence over my situation, yet it alarmed me, and I was horror-struck at feeling that I had ever been in contact with such brigands, destined to the executioner’s arm: my remembrance revealed me to myself, and I bluehed, as it were, in my own face. I sought to jose the recollection, and to lay down an impassible line of de- marcation between the past and the present; for I saw but too plainly, that the future was dependent on the past; and I was the more wretched, as a police, who have n always due powers of discernment, would not permit me to forget myself. I saw gb again on the pias of being sn hke a deer. The persuasion that I was in- terdicted from becoming an honcet man drove me to de- spair; I was silent, morose, and disheartened. Annette, perceived it, and sought to console me; she offered to de- vote herself for me, pressed me with questions, and my secret escaped me; but I never had cause to re- gret my confidence. The activity, the zeal, and the presence of mind of this woman became very useful to me. I was in want of a ery turks and she persuaded Jacquelin to lend me his; and to teach me how to make use of it, she gave me the most complete account of her family and connexions. Thus instructed, I set out on my " Journey, and traversed the whole of Lower Burgundy. Almost everywhere I was examined as to my passport, which, if they had compared with n.y person, would have at once disclosed the fraud; but this was nowhere done, and for more than a year, with trifling exceptions not worth detailing, the name of Jacquelin was propitious to me. One day that I had unpacked at Auxerre, and was psy peaceably on the quay, I met one Paquay, 8 robber by profession, whom I had seen at the tre, where he was confined for six years. I would rather have avoided him, but he addressed me abruptly, and from his first salutation I found that it would not be safe to retend no acquaintance with him. He was too inquisi- tive about what I was doing; and as I saw from his con- versation that he wished me to join him in his robberies I thought it best to get rid of him, to talk of the police o Auxerre, whom I represented to be very Mig go and eonsequently much to be dreaded. I thought I saw that * information made an impression on him, and I color- the picture still higher, until at length, after having ‘istened with much, but unquiet attention, he suddenly cried, ‘‘ Devil take it! it appears that there is nothing to be done here; the packet-boat will start in two hours, and Sf you like we will be off together."-—“ Agreed,”’ said I; “Tf you are for starting [am your man.”’ I then quitted him, after having promised to rejoin him immediately that I should have made sorne preparations which were necessary. How neg: is the condition of a fugitive galley-slave, who if he would not be denounced or impli- cated in some evil deed, must be himself the denouncer. Returned to the public-housé, I then wrote the following letter to the lieutenant of the gendarmerie, whom I knew to be on the hunt for the autoors of a robbery lately com- mitted at the coach-office: IR, “A person who does not wish to be known, informs ou that one of the autLors of the robbery committed at e coach-office in your city, will set out by the packet- boat to go to Soigny, where his accomplices most proba- bly are. Lest you should fail and not arrest him in time, it would be the best for two disguised gendarmes to go on board the packet-boat, with him, as it is important that he should be taken with prudence, and not allowed to get out of sight, as he is a very active man." This missive was accompanied by a description so minute that it was impossible to mistake him. The moment of phage arrived, and I went on the quays, taking a circuitous route, and from the window of a pub- lic-house where I stationed myself, I perceived Paqua enter the packet-boat, and soon afterwards the two gend- armes embarked, whom I r ized by a certain air, which may be geen, but cannot described, At inter- vale they handed a paper to each other, which they perused. and then cast their eyes on the man, whose dress cont to the usual garb of the robbers, was in a bad condition. The boat moved on, and I saw it depart with the more pleasure, as it carried with it Paquay, his propo- sitions, and even his discoveries, if, as 1 did not doubt, he ad the intention of The day after this adven ventory of my merchandizes, I heard an extraordi noise, and, looking from the windows, I saw Thi and hi= satellites a chain of galley-slaves! At this eight, so terrible inauspicious for me, 1 drew back uickly, but in | haste I broke a pane of glass, and sud- i looks me. I wis pre "y nly attracted ed myself in towards e bowels of the earth. Bat this was not all; for to in- etvase tay duaquisteds somebedy opened my door; it was any. whilst I was taking an in- | I alread the landlady of the Pheasant. Madame Gelat. ‘* Here, M. Jacquelin, come and see the chain passing,” she cried. “Ob, itis long since I saw such a fine one, there are at least one hundred and fifty, and some of them famous fel- lows! Do you hear how they are singing?’ I thanked a hostess for her attention, and pretending to be muc busied, told her that I would go down in an instant, “Oh do not hurry yourself,’’ she answered, ‘‘ there is plen of time, they are going to sleep here in our stables, d then if you wish to have any conversation with the com- mandant, they will put him in the chamber next to you! Lieutenant Thierry my neighbor! At this intelligence I know not what passed in my mind; but I think that if Madame Gelat had observed me she would have seen 7 countenance grow pale, and my whole frame tremble wit an involuntary shudder. Lieutenant Thierry my neigh- bor! He might recognize me, detect me; a gesture might betray me; and it was therefore expedient to avoid a ren- contre if possible. The necessity of completing my in- ventory was an excuse for my apparent want of curiosity. I passed a frightful night, and it was not until four o’cloc in the morning when the departure of the infernal procet- sion was announced to me, that I breathed freely again. He has never suffered, who has not experienced horrors similar to those into which the presence of this troop of banditti and their guards threw me. To be again invested with those fetters which I had broken at the cost of so much endurance and exertion, was an idea which haunted me incessantly. I was not the sole possessor of my own secret, for there were galley-slaves everywhere, who, if I sought to flee from them, would infallibly betray me; my repose, my very existence was menaced on all sides, and at all times. 6 glance of an eyo, the name of a commi+- sary, the appearance of a gendarme, the perusai of a sen- tence, all aroused and excited my alarm. How often did I curse the perverse fate which, deceiving my youth, had amiled at the disorderly license of my passions; and that tribunal which, by an unjust sentence, had plunged me mto a gulf whence I could not extricate myself, nor cleanse myself of the foul imputations which clung to me; and those institutions which close forever the door of re- pentance! I was excluded from society, and yet I was anxious to give it proofs of conduct; I had given them; and I attest my invariably honorable behavior after eve er my habits of regularity, and my punctilious fidelity in nifil ng all my engagements, Now some fears arose in my mind concerning Paquay, in whose arrest I had been instrumental; and, on reflec- tion, it seemed that I had acted inconsiderately in this cir- cumstance; I felt a forewarning of some impending evil, and the presentiment was realized. Paquay, when con- ducted to Paris and then brought back to be confronted at Auxerre, learnt that I was still in that city; he had al- ways suspected me of ha denounced him, and deter- inined on his revenge. He told the gaoler all he knew con- cerning me, and he reported it to the authorities; but my ke for probity was so well established in Auxerre where I remained for three months at a time, that, to avoid an unpleas@nut business, a magistrate, whose name I will not disclose, sent for me, and gave me notice of what had occurred. There was no occasion for me to avow the truth, my agitation revealed all, and I had only strength to say, “Sir, 1 seek to be an honest man.’’ Without an reply, he went out and left me alone. I comprehend his generous silence, and in a quarter of an hour I had lost sight of Auxerre; andfrom my retreat I wrote to Annette, to inform her of this fresh catastrophe. But to remove suspicion, I recommended her to etay for a fortnight at the ‘* Pheasant,"’ and to tell everybody that I was at Kouen, muking purchases, and on the expiration of the time she was to rejoin me at P where she arrived at the day ap- ponies. She told me, that the day after my departure, isguised gendarmes had called at my warehouse, intend- had said scover me at ing to arrest me, and that not finding me, they oo they did not mind, for they should ast. They continued their search; and thie deranged all my plans, for, masked under the name of Jacquelin, I saw myself reduced tw quit it, and once more renounce the in- dustrious trade which I had created. No passport, however good, could protect me through the districts which I usually traveled ‘over; and. in. those where I was unknown, my unnéual appearance would most probably excite suspicion. The crisis was horridl critical. What could Ido? This was my we ey ' when chance introduced me to a tailor of the Cour Saint Martin, who was desirous of selling his business. I treated with him, persuaded that I could nowhere be 60 safe as in the heart of a capital, where it is easy to lose oneself amid the crowded population. ht months elapsed, and nothing disturbed the tranqu enjoyed by m mother, Annette, and myself. My trade prospered, an every day a ented it; nor did I confine myself, as my predecessor had done, to the making up of clothes, but traded algo in cloths, and was perhaps on the road to for- tune, when one morning all my troubles were renewed. I was in my warehouse, when a messenger came to me, and said I was wanted at a coffice house the Rue Au- maire, and thinking that it wae some matter of business, I immediately wean £0 the place appointed. I was taken into a private-room, and there found two tives from the Bagne at Brest; one of them was that Blondy who aided my unfortunate escape from Pont-a-Luzen. ‘We have been here these ten days,"’ said he to me, *‘ and have not a sous. Yesterday we saw you in a warehouse, that we learnt was your own, which gave us much pleasure; and I said to my friend, ‘ Let us now cast off all care;’ for we know that you are not the man to leave old comrades in difficulty."’ , The idea of seeing myself in the power of two ruffians, whom I knew capable of the vilest deeds, even of #elling me to the police to make a profit of me, although they in- jured themselves, was overwhelming. I did not fail to express my pleasure at yy | them, adding, that I was not rich, and regretting that it was o in my power to give them fifty francs. They ap content with thie sitm; and on leaving me, expressed their intention to de- art at once for Chalons-sur-Marne, where they said they ad business. I should have been but too fortunate had they at once quitted Paris, but on bidding me adieu, the promised soon to see me again, and I remained tormen with the dread of their return. Would they not consider me a8 a milch-cow, and make the most of their power over me? Would they not be insatiable? Who could answer that their demande would be limited to my means? y saw myself the banker of these gentlemen and many others; for it was to be presumed, that, in con- formity with the custom of these thieves, if I satisfied them they would introduce their friends to me, who would also draw upon me, and I should only be on terms with them till my first refusal, and after that, hey would without doubt serve me a villainous trick. Wi such bloodhounds let loose upon me, it may be j ed that I was but il at ease! Tt muat be allowed that my situation was an unpleasant one, but it was crowned with a rencontre which made it still worse. It may or os f not be remembered that my wife, after her divorce, had married again, and I thought she wasn the department of the Pas-de-Calais, entirely occupied: in bein py and making her new husband so, when, in the Rue du Petit-Carreanu, I met her, face to face: and it was impossible to pass her, for rhe at once recognized me. I spoke to her, without alluding to the wrongs. ske had done me; and as the ee of her dress evinced that she was not in very flourishing circumstances I gave her some money. She perhaps imagined that it was an interested generosity, but it certainly was not. It never occurred to me that the ex-madame Vicocq would de- nounce me. In truth, in recurring at a later period to our old sires, I thought that my heart had only given. me rudential suggestions, and then approved of what I bad one; it appeared most proper that this female, in her distress, should rely on mie for some assistance. Detained in or far from Paris, I was anxious to relieve her misery. This should have been a consideration to determine her to preserve silence; and J at least thought so, We shall see whether or not I was deceived in my expectation. The oe geet of = ex-wife was an sy to which I reconciled myself; but of this charge i did not as yet know the whole weight. A fortnight had elapsed since our interview; when one morning I was sent for to the Rue de I’Echiquier, and on going there, at the bottom, of a court, in a ground-floor room, very clean, but meanly furnished, I saw —— not only my wife, but also, her nieces and their father, the terrorist Chevalier, who. had just been freed from an imprisonment of six months, for stealing plate. A glance was sufficient to assure me that I had now the whole family on my hands. They were-in a state of the most complete destitution; I hated, them and cursed them, and yet I could do nothing better. than extend my hand to them. I drained myself for them, for to have driven them to despair would have brought on my own ruin; and rather than return to the power of the po- lice, I resolved on sacrificing my last sous, At this period it seemed as if the whole; world was leagued against me; I was compelled ..to draw ne" purse-strings at every moment, and_ for whom? For creatures who, looking on my liberality,as compulsory, were prepared to betray me as soon as I ceased to be a certain source of reliance. When, lL went home from my wife's, I had still another proof of the wretchedness affixed to the state of a fugitive peer slave. Annette and my mother were in tears. During my absence, two drunken men had asked for me, and.on being told that I was from home, they had broke forth in oaths and threats which left me no longer in doubt of the perfidy of their intentions. By the description which Annette gave me of these two individuals, I easily. re- cognized Blondy and his comrade Deluc. I had_no trouble in guessing their names; and besides, they had left an address, with a formal injunction to send, them forty francs, which was more than enough to disclose.to me who they were, as there were not in Paris any other persons who could send such an intimation. I was obedient, very obedient; only in paying my contribution to these two scoundrels, 1 could not help letting-them know how inconsiderately they had behaved. ‘Consider what a step you have taken,”’ said I to them; “they knew nothing at my house, and you have told all; my wife, who carries on the concern in her name, will perhaps turn me out, and then I most be reduced to the lowest ebb of misery.".—‘‘Oh you can come and rob with us,” answered the two rascals. I endeavored to convince them how much_ better it was to owe an existence to honest toil, than to be in incessant fear from the police, which sooner or later catches all malefactors in its nets. I added that one crime generally leads to another; that he would risk his neck who ran straight towards the guillotine; andthe termination of my discourse was, that they would .do well — renounce the dangerous career on which they had entered. ' ‘**Not so bad!" cried Blondy, when | had finjshed my lecture, “not eo bad! But can you in the meantime point out to us any apartment that we can ransack?. We are, you see, like Harlequin, and have more need of. cash than advice;"’ and they left me, laughing deridingly at me. I called them back, to profess my attachment.to. them, and begged them not to call natmy honse. “ If that is all,’’ said Deluc, *‘ we will keep from that.”—‘‘ Oh yes we'll keep away,’’ added Blondy, ‘‘ since that is unpleasan to your mistress.*’ ut the latter did not stay away long: the v next — — htfall he presented himself at my warehouse, and aske to 6 me privately. I took him into my own room. ‘‘We are alone?’ said he to me, looking round at the room in which we were; and when he. was assured that he had no witnesses, he drew from his eo eleven silver forks and two gold watches, which e placed on the stand. ‘Four hundred francs for this would not be too much—the silver plate and the gold watches. Come, tip us the needful.’ ‘Four hundred france!" said I, alarmed at so abrupt a total; not so much money.” ‘‘ Never mind—go and sell; the goods.”—*‘ But if it should be known?"’ “ That's your affair; I want the ready; orif you like it better, I’ll-send you customers from the police-oftice—you know what a word would do. Come, come, the cash, the chink, and no gammon.”’ I understood the scoundrel but too well: I saw myself denounced ed from the state into which I had installed myself, and led back to the Bagne. I coun