favour of which I had so skilfully manœuvred. This imprudent act drew down upon them severe reprimands, without having the effect of making them more circumspect, or more devoted to the public good.
It will be readily understood, that, associating as I constantly did with the vilest and most abandoned, I must, as a matter of course, be repeatedly invited to join in their acts of criminal violence; this I never refused at the moment of asking, but always formed some plea for failing to attend the rendezvous for such purposes. These men of crimes were generally so absorbed in their villanous machinations, that the most flimsy excuse passed current with them: I may even say, that frequently it did not require the trouble of an excuse to deceive them. Once arrested, they never troubled themselves to find out by what means it had been effected; and had they even been more awake, my measures were laid too ably for them to have arrived at the chance of suspecting me as the author of it: indeed, I have often been accosted by some of the gang to communicate the sorrowful tidings of the apprehension of one of their number, as well as to beg my advice and assistance in endeavouring to procure his release.
Nothing is more easy, when once on good terms with the thief, than to obtain a knowledge of the persons to whom he disposes of his stolen property. I was enabled to discover several; and the directions with which I furnished the police were so unequivocal, that they never failed to join their worthy companions in the Bagnes. Perhaps the recital of the means I adopted to rid Paris of one of these dangerous characters, may not be uninteresting to the reader.
For many years the police had had its eye upon him, but as yet had not been able to detect him in any positive act of delinquency. His house had undergone repeated searches without any effect resulting from the most diligent enquiry; nothing of the most trifling nature could be found to rise in evidence against him.
