Page:Memoirs of Vidocq, Volume 2.djvu/255

 that unless surprised, this robber would defend himself desperately.

My first thought was to do nothing till day-break, as I had been told that Fossard's companion went down very early to get the milk; we should then seize her, and after having taken the key from her, we should enter the room of her lover; but might it not happen, that contrary to his usual custom, he might go out first? This reflexion led me to adopt another expedient.

The vintner's wife, in whose favour, as I was told, M. Hazard was much prepossessed, had one of her nephews at her house, a lad about ten years of age, intelligent beyond his years, and the more desirous of getting money as he was a Norman. I promised him a reward on condition that, under pretence of his aunt's being taken suddenly ill, he should go and beg madame Hazard to give him some Eau de Cologne. I desired the little chap to assume the most piteous tone he could; and was so well satified [sic] with a specimen he gave me, that I began to distribute the parts to my performers. The dénouement was near at hand. I made all my party take off their shoes, doing the same myself, that we might not be heard whilst going up stairs. The little snivelling pilot was in his shirt; he rang the bell—no one answered; again he rang:—"Who's there," was heard.—"It is I, madame Hazard; it is Louis: my poor aunt is very bad, and begs you, will be so very obliging as to give her a little Eau de Cologne—Oh! she is dying!—I have got a light"

The door was opened; and scarcely had mademoiselle Tonneau presented herself, when two powerful gendarmes seized on her, and fastened a napkin over her mouth to prevent her crying out. At the same instant, with more rapidity than the lion's when darting on his prey, I threw myself upon Fossard; who, stupified by what was doing, and already fast bound and confined in his bed, was my prisoner before he could make a single movement, or utter a single word. So great was his amazement, that it was nearly an hour before he could