The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-11-14
AnecdOte of the French Police.

whom he was a creditor 10 the extent Of sey-
entv thousand francs, had made a fraudulent
bankruptcy. The rogue is in hiding, NJ. b.
added, 'but if could put my hand on his
throat, warrant l would make him dis
gorge NJ. earlier ordered me TO make eve
ry effort to discover this dishonest bankrupt |
NJ. b. told me that prior to his disappearance
he had lived OH tie Boulevard St Martin, ,and /
that was the only precise information he could
give me.
l went myself to make inquiries at the
house indicated. / learned that NJ rs lodg- .
ings were still occupied by his wife, but that
he was away on a journey a: present. The !
truth was that since the day of his flight he :
had not once returned home. As fancied
that to pursue my Investigations further in
this quarter might compromise the affair,
withdrew. On the other hand, had learned
from commissionaire that NJ. r. had sever
al times given him letters to carry TO fe-
male, his mistress, who lived in the Rue du
Fau5ourg Montmartre. established a sur
veillance round her abode, as we'll as round
that of rs wife; and the agents had orders
to arrest the bankrupt if he called on either
of the ladies, follow them wherever they went,
and as they often went out on a hackney
coach. placed cab at the disposal of each
agent. All these measures led to no result.
and fer whole week that my mel remained
at their post, from 6 \. VI. till midnight,
nothing revealed to US the bankrupt's resi-
dence.
Everybody is aware that postmen are ac-
customed 10 utter aloud at the doorway of
the porter's lodge the names of those dodgers
to whom letters are addressed. therefore
had the pos:man f'-'-wed by an agent, close
ly enough for him TO hear the names pro-
nounced, and in the case OF there being one
addressed to either of the females, the agent
was straightway to enter the lodge commence
a conversation with the porter on some pre-
text, and try and find out the postmark.-
This arrangement failed like the rest; and
few days later the Inspector ordered TO follow
the postman into Majiame k.'s house could
not refrain from saving to me,
That old Pipeiet is as obstinate as the true
Picard he is; his lodger must have paid him
handsomely
Tnc fact is, that we had hitherto had to
deal with sharp fellow; all had been provi-
led for, and whatever ruses might be en-
ployed they had remained unsuccessful. One
word struck me, however.
You say tha, he is Picard
'N,s, sir
What makes you believe it ?
Oh that can be easily perceived by his
accent
Very good continued: If he be so, We
perhaps have chance of our gentleman
Immediately sent for one of my Cossack
irregularS, who, having worked for long
time in the different towns of Picardy, was
perfectly acquainted with the patois, and
might very easily pass himself off as pure
biooded Picard. l explained The affair ic
him fully, and concluded: You will go e
the porter of the house where Madame X
lives. and TO get into conversation YOU vii
ask him for somebody. He will reply thai
he does not know him. and then viii com,
I. small explanation, II which Won viii sud
: denly put an end by exelaiming why
surely. You are j Picard The worth,
, man will reply in the affirmative. and, Is
5 eourtvyman, Won viii offer him glass O
{ wine at the nearest bar. But YOU must TAX,
!, care TO sit down with him over 4 bottle O
r good wine, which You Will succeed by anoth
= -r and another. till yea see that you hav
). rendered Your Cerebus coniiling and cha,
e terins. Then YOU will tell him, under III
seal of secresy. that You have been in ira Il
! that YOU have been unfortunate. that the no
l. lice are after YOU, but that You have succeed
n ed in completely throwing them off The scent
This confidence, offered in youl quality OF
, fellow-provincial. will surely prorohe hi.
ii and as your position is identical VII; that {
II h. i; may be presumed that the Picard vi
- - tell YOU in his turn the story of his lodge
=. probably without naming him, but cerlainl
l. explicitly enough for US 10 be able TO fin
,e him My Ccssack was an intelligent MAJ
- - he played his part admirably, and, as matter
"a turned on; aS | had anticipated, We learne
$. that our bankrupt vas in hiding at Mon
ID marte, under the insignificant name of
- Andre. But new difficulty presented
self in the fac, tn: the windows of X.
~ room looked on garden, from which tie
es was a door into back lane. At the Sigh
T. est alarm he might, therefore, take to higI
m and moreover, he frequently slept out.
he The rext day | sent three agents TO Mon
M mo,ne, only one of whom succeeded in e
= tering the house indicated he was disgui
ed as mail-guard,and carried bag contai
ing eight hundred francs of silver. Accor
er ing TO my Instructions, he went up TO Il
w. porter:
IFS Does VI. Andre live here
it Yes: but he is out at present
70 What nuisance, l have brought hi
h. eight hundred francs, sent from Bordeau
,;o land here he ratified the bag.) We'll, a
no very sorry for him, but shall not come