The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-11-09

l Tic COinIudiN VI lusitCc Hi4N lrc ppiiCC
and how impossible it Is TO escape, i
should have remained an honest man. :
This answer suggested to me the idea
Of publishing my recollections. ''Peo
pie ought TO know | said to myself.
And in publishing my memoranda
nov. have the hope, nay, the con
viction, that lam doing moral work
Of great usefulness.
Is it not being useful to strip crime
Of it, gloomy romance and show it as
itis-base. ignoble, abjact. repulsive:
Isit not being useful tc ,'cjve that
there are no creatures in the world so
wretched as the madman who have
declared war against society?
That is what intend to do.
%iii establish irrefutabIy, that We
have every Interest, and L mean an
immediate. positive, mathematical,
even discountable interest in being
honest.
will clearly demonstrate that with
our social organization, thanks TO rail-
ways and telegraph lines, impuuity is
impossible.
Punishment may be delayed. but it
will always come.
Then doubtless there will be some
poor creatures who will reflect before
yielding to temptation.
More than one, whom the feeble
whisper of conscience would Lot have
restrained, will be checked by the ss-
lutary voice of fear.
Need now explain what these no es
are!
hall try to describe the struggles,
successes, and defeats of handful of
devoted men, to whom the safety of
Paris entrusted.
How are they to hold in check all
the criminals in a capital. which with
its suburbs, numbers more tfan three
millions of inhabitantsl
There are two hundred of them.
To them | dedicate this book.
Aud having said this, I'll begin.
THR LITTLE OLD MAN OF THR BATI-
GNOLLES
CHAPTER l.
When | was finishing my medical
studies-it was high i,ne, for l was
twenty three years old lived in the
Rue Monsieur-le Prince, almost at the
corner of the Rue Racine.
There at thirty francs a month, at
tendance included, | mad a furnished
room which would now be well worth
hundred; 1t was 50 large that could
easily put nv arms throu l. 4 iic sleeves
of my overcoat without opening the
window.
Leaving early in the morui Z to go
to my hospital, and returning very late
because the Cafe Leroy possessed ir
resistible attractions for NE, scarcely
knew by sight the dodgers in the house,
sho were all quiet people of independ
ent property or small tradesneD.
There was one, however, irh whom
gradually became intima'
Monsieur Mechinet VIA !uan of
middle height, with commonLla
countenance, always scrupulously well
shaved. The concierge treated hin;
with marked consideration, aud never
failed to hastily rnise his cap whenever
he passed his room.
AS Monsieur Mechinet's door opened
upon a landing directly opposite to the
door of my room, We often met. and on
these occasions were in the habit of
bowling to each other.
One evening he came in to ak me
for some matches, one night borrow
ed some tobacco of him; one morning
We happened 70 go out at the same
time and walk soIue distance talking
together.
Such were our first relations.
Without being either curious or sus-
picious-people are not at the age |
was then-cne likes to know something
about the persons with whom one is
acquainted.
Therefore | naturally began, not to
watch my neighbor's life, but to think
of his acts and movements
he was married, and Madame Caro-
line Mechiuet, fair. plump, merry
little woman, seemed to worship her
husband
But this husbands mode of life was
not very regular. He often left the
house before dawn, and he sun had
frequently risen wlen l heard him re
turn to his doInicile. Sometimes he
disappeared for weeks.
How pretty little Madame Mechinet
could tolerate this, was what could
not understand.
In my perplexity, | thought our con-
cierge, who was usually as talkstive as
a magpie, might enligh'en me.
Wrong! had scarcely uttered the
name. of Mecbinet when he sent Inc
about my business, sayin be was not
10 the habit of being spy upon his
dodgers.
This reception so increased my cur
iosity. that, banishing all shame, set
about watching my neighbor.
Then l discovered things that seem
ed abominable.
Once l saw him come home dressed
in the latest fashion, his button hole
adorned with five or six orders; the
next day but dirty blouse, and with a
ragged cloth, which gave him a most
sinister expression, wrapped round his
head
This isn't all. One beautiful after
noon, as he went out, / saw his wife
follow him to the threshold and. pas
sionately embracing him. say
beseech yon, Mechinet, be careful,
remember your little wife!'
Be careful. Why2 For what reasons
What did this meant Was the wife an
accomplice!
My astonishment was soon redoub-
led.
l was sleeping soundly one night,
when some one suddenly knocked hur-
riadlv at my dnor