Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 10 — page 38: what you’re looking at

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

38 Noel lighting her fire; she said I was an early rieer, and that she would go and procure me what 1 wanted. A mo- ment afterwards she brought me a key not cut into wards, and gave me files and a small vice, which I fixed on my hed: and as soon as my tools were in readiness, L began my work in presence of my hostess, who seeing that I was perfectly conversant with the business, complimented me on my skill; and what she most admired wus the ex- dition of my work; for in fact, in less than four houre, had perfected a most workmanlike key, which I tried, and it 2ued most accurately. A few touches of the file completed the instrument; and: like the rest, I had the means of unobstructed entrance whenever I wished to visit the house, I wasMadame Noel's boarder; and, after dinner, I told her I was inclined to take a turn in the dusk, that I might find whether ‘‘a job” I contemplated was yet feasible, and she approved se suggestion, at the same time recom- mending me to use @l caution, *‘ That thief of a Vidocq,”’ she observed, ‘is a thorn in one’s path; mind him;—and, if I were you, before I made any attempts, I would wait antil my feet were well.’ ‘1 shail not go far,’’ 1 replied; “nor stay away long.’’ This assurance of a speedy return seemed to quiet herfears. ‘* Well then, go,’’ she said; and | went out limping. So far all succeeded to my most sanguine wishes; it was impossible to stund better with Mother Noel; but, b remaining in her house, who would guarantee that should not be knocked on the head? Might not,two or three galley-slaves arrive together, recognise me and at- tack me? ‘Then farewell to all my plottings; and it was mcum bent, that, without losing the fruit of my friendship with Mother Noel, [should prepare myself for the contin- gent danger, It would have been the ee of impru- ence to have given her cause to think that had any mo- tives for avoiding contact with her guests, and I conse- quently endeavored so to lead her on, that she should herself suggest to me the necessity of quiling her house; that is, that she should advise me no louger to think o sleeping in her domicile. I had observed that Madame Noel was very intimate with a fruitseller who lived in the house; and I sent to this woman one of my agents named Mancean, whom I charged to ask her secretly, aud yet with a want of skill, forsome accounts of Madame Noel. I had dictated the questions, and was the more certuin that the fruit-woman would not fail to communicate the particulars, as I had desired my man to beg her to observe secrecy. The event proved that I was. not deceived;—no sooner had my avent fulfilled hie mission, than the fruit-woman hast: ned to Madame Noel with an account of what had ssed; who, in her turn, lost no time in telling me. n the look-out at the steps of the door of her oflfi- cious neighbor, as soon as she saw me, she came to me, and, without farther preface, desired me to follow her, which I did; and, on reaching the Place des Victoires, she stupped, and looking about her to be as- sured that no one was in hearing, she told me what had passed:—‘' So,” seid ste, in conclusion, ‘‘you see, my poor Germain, that it would not be prudent for you to sleep at my house; you mnet even be cautious how you omy it by day.” Mother Noel had no idea that this circumstance which she bewailed so greatly was of my own planning; and, that I might remove all Spapinions from her mind, I pretended 10 be more vexed at it than she was, and cursed and swore bitterly at that blackguard Vidocq, who would not leave us at peace. I deprecated the necessity to which 1 was reduced of finding a shelter out of Paris, and took leave of Madame Noel, who, wish- ing me good luck and a speedy return, put a thirty-sous- piece into my hand. I knew that Deebois and Mongenet were expected; and [ was also aware thar there were comers and goers who visited the house, whether Madame Noel was there or not, and she was often absent, giving music-lessons in the city. It was important that I should know there gentry; and to achieve this I disguised several of my auxiliaries, and stationed them at the corners of the sirvet, where, mixing with the errand boys and messengers, their pres- ence excited no suspicion. These precautions taken, that I mo oe testify all due a pearance of fear, I allowed two days to pass before I again visited Madame Noel; and this period my elapsed, I went one evening to her house, accompanied by a young man, whom | introduced as the brother of a female with whom I had once lived: and who, having met me acci- dentally in Paris, had given me an asylum. This young man was a recret agent, but I took care to tell Mother Noe] that he had my fullest confidence, and that she might con- sider him as my second self; and as he was not known to the spies, I had chosen him to be my messenger to her wherever I did not judge it prudent to show myself, * Henceforward,” I added, ** he will be our gerne tenn, and will come every two or three days, that 1 may have information of you and your friends.”’ ‘“*T’faith,”’ said Mother Noel, *‘ youn have lost a pleasure; for twenty minutes sooner, and you would have seen a lady «f your acquaintance here.” “ Ah! who was it?” “* Mongenet’s sister.”’ “Oh! indeed; she has often seen me with her brother.” “Yes; when I mentioned you, she described you as ex- actly as possible;—‘a lanky chap,’ said she, ‘ with his nose always grimed with snuff,’ ”’ Madame Noel deeply regretted that I had not arrived before meres jr sister had departed; but certainly not so much as I rejoiced at my narrow escape from an liter view which would have destroyed all my we écts; for if this woman knew Germain she also knew Vidocq; and it was impoesible that she could have mistaken one for the other, so great was the difference between us. Although I had altered my features so as to deceive, yet the resein- blance which in description seemed exact, would not stand the test of a critical examination, and particularly the reminiscences of intimacy. Mother Noel then gave mea very useful warning, when she informed me that Monge. net's sister was a very frequent visitor at her house, rom thenceforward I resolved that this female should *ever catch a glimpse of oy countenance; and to avoid meeting with her, whenever I visited Madame Noel, I sent my pretended brother-in-law first, who, when she was not there, had instructions to let me. know it by sticking a wafcr on the window. At this oe I entered, and my aide-de-camp betook himself to his post in the neighbor- hood, to guard against any disagreeable surprise. Not very far di-tant were other auxiliaries, to whom I had con- fided Mother Noel’s key, that they might come to wmy suc- cor in case of danger; for, from one instant to another, I might fall suddenly amongst a gang of fugitives, or some of Cr ay es recognize and attack me, and then a blow of my fist against a square of glass in the window was the gual which was to denote my need of @esisiance, to equalize the contending parties, Thas were wy schemes concerted, aud the dnale was at -“ —a The New York Library. - _—— ee LL LL ===> OEE TTT ET ee ee ee —e_—— hand. It was on Tuesday, and a letter from the men I was in quest of announced their intended arrival on the Friday following;.a day which Iintended shonld be for them a black Friday. At the first dawn I betook myself to a wine-vault in the vicinity, and, that they might have no motive for watching me, supposing as was their cus- tom, that they should traverse the street. several times u and down before they entered Madame Noel's domicile, first. -ent my pretenced brother-in-law, who returned soon afterwards, and toid me that Mongenet’s sister was not there, and that I might safely enter. “* You are not de- ceiving me?’’ said I to my agent, whose tone appeared al- tered and embarrassed, and fixing on him one of those looks which penetrated the very heart’s core, I thought I observed one of those ill-suppressed contractions of the muscles of the face which accompany a premeditated lie; and then, quick as lightning, the thought came over me that 1 was betrayed,—that my agent was a traitor. We were in a private room, and, without a moment's hesita- tion, I grasped his throat. with violence, and told him, in presence of his comrades, that I was informed of his perfidy, and that if he did not instantly confess all, I would shoot him on the spot. Dismayed at my penetra- tion and determined manner, he stammered out a few words.of excuse, and falling on, his knees confessed that he had discovered all to Mother Noel. This baseness, had I not thus detected it, would prob- ably have cost me my life, but I did not think of any personal resentment; it was only the interest of society which I cared for, and which I regretted to see wrecked when so near port... The traitor, Manceau, was put in confinement, and young as he was, having many old offenses to expiate, was sent to Bicétre, and then to the isle of Oleron, where he terminated his career. It may be conjunctured that the fugitives did not return to the Rue Ticquetonne; but they were, notwithstanding, appre- hended a short time afterwards. Mother Noel did not forgive the trick I had played her; and, to satisfy her revenge, sane, one day, had all her goods taken away; and when this had been effectcd, went out without closing her door, and returned, crying out that she had been robbed. The neighbors were made witnesses, a declaration was made before a €ommissary, and Mother Noel pointed me out as the thief; because, she said, I had a key of her appartments. The accusation was a grave one, and she was instantly sent to the pre- fecture of police, and the next day I received the informa- tion. My justification was not difficult, for the préfet, as well as M. mene saw through the imposture; and we managed so well, that mother Noel’s property was dis- covered, proof was obtained of the falsity of the charge and, to give her time for repentence, she was sentenced for six months to St. Lazarre. Such were the issue and the consequences of an enterprise, in which I had not failed to use all precaution; and I have often achieved success in affairs, in which arrangements had been made, not 60 skilfully conzecied or so ably executed. CHAPTER XXIX. Arter having undergone several sentences, two fugi- tives of the isles, named Goreau and Florentin, cailed Chatelain (governor). of whom I have already sa poe were detained at Bicétre, as incorrigible robbers, eary of confinement in these cells, where they were buried alive, they sent to M. Henry a letter, in which they offered to give such information as should lead to the apprehen- sion of several of their comrades, who were daily per- peerasing robberies in Paris. Fossard, sentenced for ife, who had frequently escaped from the Bagnes, was the one marked out as the most dangerous, ‘“* He was,” they wrote, ‘‘ unequalled for intrepidity, and must be attacked with caution; for always armed to the teeth, he had resolved on blowing out the brajns of that police- agent who should be hardy enough to attempt to ap- prehend him,”’ The heads of the police asked nothing better than to free the capital from such a daring thief, and their first idea was to employ me in discovering him; but the informers having suggested to M. Henry that I was too well known to Fossard and his concubine not to defeat an operation which must be most delicately effected, it wae decided that the affair should be intrusted to the skill of some police-ofticers, To them therefore were given all the necessary instructions to regulate their searches; but, either they were not lucky, or they did not especially approve a rencontre with Fossard, who was “ armed to the teeth;’’ for he continued his exploits, and the numerous complaints to which his activity gave rise, announced, that in spite of their apparent zeal, these gentlemen, as usual, made more noise than work. The result was, that the préfet, who preferred doings to sayings, sent for them one day, and reprimanded them in a manner which must have been severe, to judge by the discontent which they could not help sa pa - They had just received this official proof of dis- A bia when I happened to meet, in the market of Saint-Jean M. Yvrier, one of the officers in question whom I saluted, and he thereupon accosted me, almost bursting with rage, saying: ‘‘ Ah! there you are, Mr. Do- so-much; you are the cause of our having been repri- manded about that Foss.rd, the by galley-slave, who they say ia in Paris, If we are to believe monsieur le préfet, there is no one but you who can do anything, ‘If Vidocgq,’ be said to us, ‘had Leen ordered to this busi- ness, we should have had this fellow apprehended lon ago.’ Well then, let us see, M. Vidocq; set your wits to work to find him, you who are so very clever, and prove that you have all the talent that they say you have,’ M. Yvrier was an old man, and it was respect for his e which checked my reply to his impertinence; and al- theagh I was wounded by the tone of his address, I did not care to show it, contenting myself with replying, that I had not then the leisure to occupy myself about Fos- sard, that he was a capture I should reserve till the first of January, that I might have a suitable new-year’s gift, for M. le préfet, as the previous year I had brought the famous Delzéve. ** Go on your own way,” replied. M. Yvrier, irritated at this boast; ‘the event will -how what you are; a pre- sumptuous fellow, who creates difficuities to show his skill in surmounting them;” and. he left me, acetal out from between his teeth some other epithets and qual- ities which 1 neither understood nor heeded. After this scene, | went to M, Ilenry’s private room, to whom I related it. ‘Ah! they wince TOs are angry, are they?” said he, laughing; “‘so m the better; it roves that they defer to your ability. I see,” added M, enry, ‘that these genUlemen are like the eunuchs of a seraglio; they cannot do themselves, apd would not allow others to be doing.” He then gave me the following particulars: | ** Vossard lives in Paris, in a street leading from @ mar- ket-place to a bonlevard, on what story his apartm are, is unknown; but the windows may be recognized hy having yellow silk curtains and other curtains of ein- broidered muslin, In the same house resides A&A little hump-backed woman, & seamstress, and intimate with the female who lives with Fossard.”’ These particulars were, it may be seen, not sufficenftty definite to lead at once to the spot we wished to dis cover. I was in doubt as to what stepsI shonid first take; but as Thad generally found that, in all my undertakings, it was from females that I gleaned my informatian, w!iether women or girls, Isoon determined on the disguise which was best adapted for my purpose. It was apparen! that I must assume the guise of a very respectable gent)-man, and ng cwsinel £ y means Of some false wrinkles, a pig-tail, snowy-white ruffles, a large yold-headed cane, a three-cornered hat, buckles, breeches and coat to match— Iwas metamorphosed into one of those good sexagen- arian citizens, whom al) old ladies admire. I had the precise appearance ard air of one of those rich old boys of the Marais, whose rubicnnd and jolly countenance proves the ease of his circumstances, and the desire to bestow charity on those who. need_ it, by way of a recompense to fortune. I was very sure that the hump-backed women would set their caps at me; and I had the appearance of so good a man, that it was impossible they would make any attempts at deceiving me, “hus disgnised Iwent into the streets, Gazing upwards to discover all the curtains of the prescribed color. 1 was so much occupied with this investigation that I was entire! lost to all around me, Had I been a little less sabstantial- looking I might have been taken for a metaphysician, or perhaps for a poet who was seeking a couplet in the region of the chimney-pots; twenty times I narrowly escaped the cabriolets; on all sides the cry of ‘* Gare! Gare!” (mind, mind) assailed me, and then on turning round I was under the wheel, or else close beside a horse; sometimes, whilst I was wiping the dirt from my sleeve, alash of awhip came across my face. or, if the driver were less brutal, it was some sich salutation as this:— ** Out of the way, old dunny-head,”’ or else, “‘ Come, what are you at, old stupid?”’ y work was not to be completed in a aiete day, even as far as the yellow curtains went; I marked down more than one hundred and fifty in my memorandum book, which gave choice enough in all conscience. Might not the curtains, behind which Fossard was concealed, have been taken down and replaced by white, red, or green ones? However, if chance was against me she might yet throw out some favorable hint for my guidance; and 1 took courage, although it is a somewhat painful task for a sex- agenarian to ascend and descend a hundred and fifty stair cases, consisting at least of seyen hundred and fifty stories —to take more than thirty thousand steps, or twice the height of Chimborazo; but as I felt my breath good, and my legs strong, I undertook the task, sustained by the same hope as that which papeles the Argonauts to sail in quest of the golden fleece, It was my hump-backed lady that I sought; and in my ascents, in how many landing-places have I not stood sentinel for hours together, in the persua- sion that my Incky star would shine u her? The hercic Don Quixote was not more ardent the pursuit of his Dulcinea. I knocked at the doors of al! the seamstresees; lL examined them one after another, but no humps; they were all perfectly formed; or if by chance they had a pro jection, it was not a deviation of the spine, but one of those temporary exuberances which resolve themselves into maternity. Thus passed several days without presenting to my lon ng eyes the object of my search, and I was heartily tired of my job, for every night my back ached past bear- ing, and yet the work was to be recommenced the next morning, I dared ask no questions; for although then some charitable soul might have pnt me on the right scent, yet I might get into danger; and at last, fatigued with this unsatisfactory mode of search, I determined to adopt another. Ihave remarked that hump-backed women are gener- ally very inquisijive and great chatterers: they are generally the news-distributers of the district, and if not, they are then the registers of petty slanders, and nothin passes with which they are not acquainted. Impresse with this idea, I concluded that, under pretext of getting her little requisites supplied, the unknown humpy lady, who had already cost me so much trouble, would not fail any more than many others, to come and have her wonted gossip at the milkman’s, the baker's, the fruiterer’s, the mercer’s, or the grocer’s. 1 resolved, therefore, to station myself at the doors of several of these chattering shops, and as every humpy woman, anxious for a husband makes a great parade of her abilities as a clever caterer i was persuaded that mine would be on foot eaily in the morning, and that Il onght, to see her, to station myself ut an early hour at my pont of observation, and accord- ingly I went there at day break, first employed myself in considering how best to take my measures, To what milkwoman wonld a hump- backed lady give the preference? Certainly to her who had most gossip, and sold cheapest. There was one at the corner of the Rue Thevenot, who seemed to me to combine these two qualities; she had about her a great number of small cans, and from the midst of her circle did not cease to talk and serve, serve and talk. Her customers babbled away to their héarts’ content, and she chattered as indefatigably as hercustomers; but this wis not of any Gonneqnence to me; I had pitched npon an ad- wpe ig ae likely spot, and was determined not to lose sight of i n going to my second watch in the evening, I im- patiently awaited the arri