I had scarcely set foot in the prison, when the attorney-general Rauson, whom my repeated escapes had irritated against me, appeared at the grating, and said—"What, Vidocq has arrived? Have they put him in fetters?"—"What have I done, sir," said I, "that you should wish to be so severe with me? Is it a great crime because I have so frequently escaped? Have I abused the liberty which I hold so precious? When I have been retaken, have I not been found exerting myself to procure honorable modes of livelihood? I am less guilty than unfortunate! Have pity on me,—pity my poor mother; if I am condemned to return to the Bagne, she will die!"
These words, pronounced with accents of sincerity, made some impression of M. Rauson, who returned in the evening, and questioned me at length of the mode of my life since I had left Toulon; and as in proof of what I told him, I offered indubitable testimony, he began to evince some kindness towards me. "Why do you not draw up," said he, "an application for pardon, or at least for a commutation of the sentence? I will recommend you to the chief justice." I thanked the magistrate for his proffered kindness to me, and the same day a barrister of Douai, M. Thomas, who took a real interest in me, brought for my signature a petition, which he had been so kind as to draw up for me.
