New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-05-04
conjagal spies.

Paris abounds in mysterious trades. Some
years ago, M. Privat d'Anglemont a sort of Ffenc4
Edgar Poe, who lived the same life and died in the
same melancholy manner as his American proto-
type published, in one Of the daily journals ofthis
CITY, series of interesting papers, under the title
of !" Unknown Professions among these sketches
were some very singular types which probably
even Eugene Sue, with all his experience of low
life in Paris, had never discovered. But Prfvas
d d'Anglemont by no means exposed all the occult
trades of the French metropolis, and in partic
ular, which he passed over might have formed q
prolific theme for his entertaining pen. refer to
the parsonage known as the aeoningal spy
Although this individual, who ID real character
and is generally called the g Widocq of the jeai-7
ous, is quite above attending4t to business himself
| he has organized complete establishment of sur
veillance, to which application may be made and
where assistance may be secured {for cash), with
| out the slightest difficulty.
1t is even possible to arrange matters by the
month, quarter or year-for all the world as ifyou
were subscribing for newspaper, except that it
is somewhat more expensive. The price of an
annual subscription is three thousand francs, or
5000. For this sum, jealous husband is kept ad-
vised of every step Madame takes outside the con-
jugal domicile, during an entire, twelvemonth,
day and night. Nor has Madame any right to
| complain for she enjoys precisely the same priv
ilege, and may learn all her husbands movements
as if she never left his side. However, except in
instances, the yearly plan is not patronized.
Suspicion is ordinarily Confrmedi on removed in a.
very brief PERIOD and few days are generally
sufficient. In these cases, the charge is twenty
francs per diem. t
Not long ago, a certain Parsian 0theIo of an
uncommonly dotng species. all at one tormented
himself with notion that Mrs. Qthello held clam
destine meetings with Capt. Cassie, of the Grena-
diers, who was her own cousin to boot. Of posted
Mr.. O. to the chief Of the coningal spy establish
ment, and employed an expert 'sshadowiitto keep
| an eye upon Mrs. O.s promenades. The surgeiI-
| lance lasted week. 1t might have gone on for a
longer period, but the spy rendered SO good an
account of the lady he was employed to watch
that at the end of eight days, her worthy husband
began to suspect that he had made an ass of HIM X
self and was spending twenty francs a day for
nothing. He consequently informed Vidocq that
he was quite satisfied. and called foa his bill A bit
of paper was forthwith presented to him. upon
which his Indebtedness was set down at 100 frames
6 Four hundred francs IN exclaimed the good
man. "There is a mistake in this + Our engage
ment has extended over period of eight days
only, and at twenty francs day, the amount is
one hundred and sixty francs"
| Every true, sir,'' replied the other; " but
thought could venture to incnde Madame's bill
| in yourso
"what! You don't mean to say my wife owes
you anything?"
| " Yes, sir; twelve days following and watching.
| at twenty francs, two hundred and forty francs,
which, added to your HUNDREDS and sixty, makes
the four hundred.''
| The. excellent husband was not displeased at
this oh! far from it. So, his wife had set a
watch over him! It became perfeetly evident that
| she must be Jealous of him, and women are not
jealous of men they do not love. He joyfully paid
the money, took receipt and was about leaving
the office, u when, struck with sudden idea, he
turned to Vidocq and asked:
"When it my wife employed one of your
men to follow me?"
You, sir2 She never engaged US to follow
youl''
"Then, what the ID is the meaning of these
two hundred and forty francs-hey?''
Why, sir, some days before You came to us, to
have Madame watched, Madame employel US to
look after Captain Casio of the Grenadiers and
am sorry to say, sir, the reports we have made to
Madame have not been SO satisfactory as was de-
sriable. The Captain is hard case, sia, pe,.yt
hard case, and he has been going with Mamseile
Clementine, OF the Opera, in manner nast shock
ing to our feelings as coniugal agents.n
OF course Otheo left, more or less .pnlyerize6i
| by this professional , revelation.