they made her the same offers of service, the same promises; Lacour, Decostard, and Chrestien took her to M. Bazile's, the vintner's, place du Palais de Justice; and there, in the presence of Leblanc's wife and a bottle of wine, exerted all their eloquence to prove to the mother of Peyois that if she seconded them, and her son was obedient to their orders, it would be easy to save him: "Be quiet," said Chrestien, "and we will do all that is requisite."
Such were the facts elucidated by the inquiry; it became evident to the magistrates that the incident of the crow-bar furnished by Vidocq was an invention of my agents; and, subsequently, on this foundation, a thousand and one tales were made more or less ridiculous; which the Plutarchs of the literary pillar will not fail to give as authentic, if ever Tiger, the printer, or his successor, should take a fancy to add to their collection of wonderful books, "The wonderful, but yet most true history of the deeds, actions, and adventures, memorable, extraordinary, and surprising, of the celebrated Vidocq; with a portrait of that great spy, as he appeared when living, just before his death, which happened without accident, on the day of his decease, in his house at Saint Mandé, at midnight, on the 22d July, in the year of grace, 1875."
