Page:Memoirs of Vidocq, Volume 2.djvu/62

 tow me," said he, "and I will pilot you. Do you see the telegraph? What does it say, with its arms in the air?"—"It makes signals that the Dufailli is lying to." "The Dufailli,—thousand Gods! a ship of three hundred tons at least. Do not fear; all's right with Dufailli." At the same time, without letting go my arm, he took off his hat, and placing it on the end of his finger, spun it round. "See my compass; attention—we go as the cockade points—weather the cape of the Rue des Prêcheurs; forward, march!" ordered Dufailli; and we took together the road to the lower town, after he had put on his hat with much noise.

Dufailli had promised to advise me, but he was not in a state to do it. I anxiously desired that he should recover his reason, but, unfortunately, the air and exercise produced a precisely opposite effect. On going down the main street, we were obliged to enter every public-house, with which the residence of the army had filled the place; everywhere made a stay, shorter or longer. I endeavoured to make them as brief as possible. Each shop, Dufailli said, was a port, into which we must put, and each port encreased the cargo, which he had already so much difficulty to carry. "I am as full as a beggar," said he to me, in broken words; "and yet I am not a beggar, for beggars never get drunk, do they my boy?"

Twenty times I resolved on leaving him; but Dufailli, when sober, might aid me; I remembered his full girdle, and even without that, I knew well that he had other resources than his serjeant's pay. Having reached the church in the Place d'Alton, he took it into his head to have his shoes brushed, which, when done, he lost his balance in moving from the stool; and, thinking he would fall, I approached to support him. "What, countryman, don't fear because I make a reel or two; I have a sailor's foot." In the mean time the brush had given brightness to his shoes; and when they were completely blackened, "Come, the finishing touch," said Dufailli; "or is that for