Page:Memoirs of Vidocq, Volume 2.djvu/126

 I should secure some disguise, which, when I had effected my escape, would effectually conceal me from all pursuit. I confided my intentions to some friends, and they provided for me the uniform of an artillery officer, of which I resolved to avail myself at the very first opportunity. One Sunday evening I was at table with the jailor, and the agent Hurtrel; the wine had made them very merry, for I had pushed it about briskly. "Do you know, my hearty," said Hurtrel to me, "that it would have been no safe business to have put you here seven years ago. A window without bars! By Jove, I would not have trusted you."—"And further, Hurtrel," I replied, "one should be made of cork to risk a plunge from such a height; the Scarpe is very deep for a person who cannot swim,"—"True," said the jailor; and there the conversation rested, but my determination was taken. Some friends arrived, and the jailor sat down to play with them; and fixing on the moment when he was most intent on his game, I threw myself into the river.

At the noise of my fall, all the party ran to the window, whilst Wettu called loudly to the guard and turnkeys to pursue me. Fortunately, twilight rendered it scarcely possible to discern objects; and my hat, which I had thrown designedly on the bank, seemed to indicate that I had immediately got out of the river, whilst I had continued swimming towards the Watergate, under which I passed with great difficulty, in consequence of being very cold, and my strength beginning to fail. Once out of the city, I gained the bank, my clothes full of water, not weighing less than an hundred weight; but I had made up my mind not to delay, and pushed on at once for Blangy, a village two leagues from Arras. It was four in the morning; and a baker who was heating his oven, gave me leave to dry my garments, and supplied me with food. As soon as I was dried and refreshed, I started for Duisans, where the widow of an old friend of mine, a captain, resided. A messenger was to bring to me there the uniform