"Why? here, come this way; do you see our friends with the bundles?"
"I am awake; you are loaded with swag," (plunder.)
I approached them; and the whole party instantly rising, as soon as they were on their feet I recognised Lapierre, Commery, Lenoir, and Dubuisson; they all four hastened to assure me how glad they were to see me, and to extend the hand of friendship to me.
Commery. "Ah! we narrowly escaped; my heart still thumps, put your hand upon it, feel how it goes tick-tack."
Vidocq. "That is nothing."
Lapierre. "Oh! we have had a fright in real earnest: I know very well that when I saw the greens,[1] my heart jumped bang into my mouth."
Dubuisson. "And just above the market-place were the hirondelles de la Grève, (dragoons of Paris,) whom we met nose to nose on horseback just by la Gaité (the theatre.)
Vidocq. "What spoonies you are! you should have had a drag to whisk off the swag in. You are but greenhorns."
Richelot. "Greenhorns if you like; but we had no means of conveyance, and we have therefore chosen the back streets."
Vidocq. "And where are you now going? If I can assist you in any way "
Richelot. "If you will pilot us, and give us your company as far as the Rue Saint-Sebastien, where we are going to deposit the swag, you shall have your whack."
Vidocq. "With pleasure, my boys."
Richelot. "Well, then, go first, and spy if you twig any coves or beaks."
Richelot and his companions took up their bundles and I went forward. Our progress was fortunate and
- ↑ The Parisian guard, whose uniform was green.
