Page:Memoirs of Vidocq, Volume 2.djvu/19

 "Ah ha! but you fear the guillotine too much. But that is not the way to go to work to get the money."

"I would rather murder on the highway, than break open shops; the gendarmes are always at your heels."

"Well, then, you have got no booty; and yet there were snuff-boxes, watches, and gold chains enough. The Jew will have no business to day."

"No; the false key broke in the lock, the citizen cried for help, and we had to run for it"

"Holla!" said a third person; "do not wag your tongue so fast; there is a man in bed, who may be listening."

The advice was too late, but it silenced them, and I half-opened my eyes to see the faces of my companions; but my bed being very low, I could not perceive them. I remained quiet, that they might suppose me asleep; when one of the speakers having arisen, I recognised him as an escaped prisoner from Toulon, named Neveu, who had left some days before me. His comrade jumped out of bed, and him I knew to be Cadet-Paul, another fugitive; a third, and then a fourth arose, and I knew them all then to be galley-slaves.

I almost fancied myself in my room. No. 3. At length I got up from my bed, and scarcely had I put foot on the floor, when they all exclaimed "'Tis Vidocq!" They surrounded and congratulated me. One of be robbers, Charles Deschamps, who had escaped a few days after me, told me, that the whole Bagne were fall of admiration at my boldness and success. Nine o'clock having struck, they conducted me to breakfast, where we joined the brothers Quinét, Bonnefoi, Robineau, Metral, and Lemat, names well known in the south. They overwhelmed me with kindnesses, procured me money, clothes, and even a mistress.

I was here situated precisely as I had been at Nantes, but I was not more desirous of following the profession of my friends than I had been in Bretagne;