Page:Narrative of a captivity and adventures in France and Flanders between the years 1803 and 1809.djvu/152

 much exceeded that of the French government, viz £2: 1s. 8d. per head (for she, as well as ourselves, at the time, was ignorant of the reward offered at Valenciennes), that it would amply compensate for the risk. The roof which now sheltered us, covered a solitary "cabaret" situated midway, between Bruges and Blankenberg, known by the sign of the "Raie-de-chat," which, by way of abbreviation, we called the "Cat," and being the house of police correspondence, it was visited regularly three times a week, and sometimes oftener, by the gens d'armes, consequently the less likely to be suspected. According to the "code Napoleon," the penalties attached to favouring the escape of prisoners of war, were a fine of £12 10s. the expences of the law proceedings, and two months' imprisonment. This law, however, did not intimidate Madame Derikre, for such was her name; she resolved upon serving us; yet notwithstanding her apparent sincerity and assurance of success, our minds were not perfectly at ease until twenty-four hours had elapsed; that being