Page:Memoirs of Vidocq, Volume 3.djvu/91

 "Why? here, come this way; do you see our friends with the bundles?"

"I am awake; you are loaded with swag," (plunder.)

I approached them; and the whole party instantly rising, as soon as they were on their feet I recognised Lapierre, Commery, Lenoir, and Dubuisson; they all four hastened to assure me how glad they were to see me, and to extend the hand of friendship to me.

. "Ah! we narrowly escaped; my heart still thumps, put your hand upon it, feel how it goes tick-tack."

. "That is nothing."

. "Oh! we have had a fright in real earnest: I know very well that when I saw the greens, my heart jumped bang into my mouth."

. "And just above the market-place were the hirondelles de la Grève, (dragoons of Paris,) whom we met nose to nose on horseback just by la Gaité (the theatre.)

. "What spoonies you are! you should have had a drag to whisk off the swag in. You are but greenhorns."

. "Greenhorns if you like; but we had no means of conveyance, and we have therefore chosen the back streets."

. "And where are you now going? If I can assist you in any way "

. "If you will pilot us, and give us your company as far as the Rue Saint-Sebastien, where we are going to deposit the swag, you shall have your whack."

. "With pleasure, my boys."

. "Well, then, go first, and spy if you twig any coves or beaks."

Richelot and his companions took up their bundles and I went forward. Our progress was fortunate and