Page:Memoirs of Vidocq, Volume 2.djvu/256

 articulate even a few words. When a light was brought, and he saw my black face and garb of a coalman, he experienced such an increase of terror, that I really believe he imagined himself in the devil's clutches. On coming to himself, he thought of his arms, his pistols and dagger, which were upon the table; and turning his eyes towards them, he made a struggle, but that was all; for, reduced to the impossibility of doing any mischief, he was passive, and contented himself with "chewing the cud of sweet and bitter fancy."

On searching the domicile of this formidable brigand, a great quantity of jewels were found; diamonds, and cash to the amount of eight or ten thousand francs. Fossard having recovered his spirits, told me, that under the marble of the chimney-piece were ten notes, of a thousand francs each. "Take them," said he; "we will divide, or you shall take as much as you please." I took the notes, and getting into a fiacre, we soon reached M. Henry's office, where we deposited the booty found in Fossard's apartment. On making out the inventory, when we came to the last item, the commissary who had accompanied me in the enterprize, said, "It now only remains to conclude the procès-verbal."—"Stay one moment," I cried, "here are ten thousand francs which the prisoner has handed over to me." I displayed this sum, to the great regret of Fossard, who gave me one of those looks which would say, "this is a turn I will never forgive."

Fossard entered early on a career of crime. Born of reputable parents, he had received a good education; his friends had done all in their power to divert him from his vicious courses, but, in spite of good advice, he had thrown himself headlong into the vortex of bad company. He began by stealing trifling articles; but soon after, having acquired a decided taste for such pursuits, and blushing, no doubt, at being confounded with ordinary robbers, "petty-larceny knaves," he adopted what the gentlemen style a "distinguished line." The famous Victor Desbois and Noel with the