Page:Memoirs of Vidocq, Volume 2.djvu/148

 will take him away—criminals, like him, are not guilty; and if it only depended on me, I know I would hide them all in my chemise."

Father. "Do you not know the tailor is a large fellow?—he has a famous body of his own."

Mother. "Never mind, I would hide him, I wish he would come here. Do you remember the deserter?"

Father. "Hush, hush! Here they come."

SCENE THE SECOND.

ENTER THE COMMISSARY, GENDARMES, AND THEIR ATTENDANTS.

(At this moment the commissary and his staff having traversed the house from top to bottom, reached the fourth story.)

Commissary. "Ah! the door is open. I beg pardon for disturbing you, but the interest of society demands it. You have a neighbour, a very bad man, a man who would kill either father or mother."

Wife. "What, monsieur Vidocq?"

Commissary. "Yes, madam, Vidocq; and I charge you, in case you or your husband have given him shelter, to tell me without delay."

Wife. "Ah, monsieur le commissaire, you may look everywhere if you please. We give shelter to any one who—"

Commissary. "Ah, you should beware, for the law is very severe in this particular. It is a subject on which there is no joking! You would subject yourselves to very severe punishment; for a man condemned to capital punishment, it would be nothing less than"

Husband (quickly). "We are not afraid of that, monsieur commissaire."

Commissary. "I believe you, and rely on you. However, that I may have nothing to reproach myself with, you will permit me to make a slight search, just