Page:Memoirs of Vidocq, Volume 3.djvu/93

. "Go by yourself, or take Lenoir."

. "You had better come, as you have already dealt with the old woman, and can make a surer bargain."

. "Let me alone, I am sleepy."

. "My G—, what sluggards you are, I will go if you will tell me where."

. "You are right, Jean Louis, but the fence has never seen you and will not deal for the swag but with us. But if you like we will go together."

. "Yes, we two, and then another time she will know my phiz."

We went. The fence lived in Rue de Bretagne, No. 14, in the house of a sausage-maker, who appeared the owner of it. Richelot entered, and asked if Madame Bras was at home. Yes, was the answer; and after having gone through the passage we went up the stairs to the three pair. Madame Bras had not gone out, but, actuated by a principle of honour, she would not take in any property by daylight. "At least," said Richelot to her, "if you cannot take the goods now, give us earnest; come, it is a good haul, and you know we deal all upon the square."

"You say very true, but I cannot allow myself to be compromised by a pair of good eyes; come in the evening, then all cats are grey." Richelot tried by every effort to extract some coin from her, but she was inexorable, and we retired without having obtained any thing. My companion cursed, swore, stormed, till it did one's heart good to hear him.

"Well," said I to him, "one would imagine that you had lost every thing. Why vex yourself? If she will not, another will; come with me to my fence, I am sure she will lend us four or five crowns."

We went to the Rue Neuve-Saint-François, where I had fixed my domicile. By a low whistle, I made Annette understand that I wanted her, and she quickly