1829.] a Police Officer. 55 
punished, fought several duels, (which, by the way, seem to have been 
little more desperate than those of the German students, who agree before 
they begin not to hurt one another. much) ; and at length deserted to the 
Austrians—then back again to a French horse regiment—and_ returned 
wounded to Arras, just as the revolution was assuming its most frightful 
shape in that city, under the auspices of Joseph Le Bon. 
His bonnes fortunes and his indiscretion get him into prison; his 
friends get him out, through the interest of a M. Chevalier with Le Bon. 
Vidocgq joins the army, and upon his return is jockeyed into a marriage 
with the ugly sister of his deliverer, whose infidelity places him again in 
peril. Once more free, he sets out to discharge a commission which he 
has for his adjutant-general ; not finding him at Tournay, he proceeds to 
Brussels, the dissipations of which he likes so well, that he does not 
trouble himself about returning to his duty. He here becomes acquainted 
with a gang of sharpers, who, under the pretence of belonging to the 
armée roulante, assume military ranks. Vidocq is a captain of hussars, 
and he and his companions persuade a silly old rich baroness to marry 
him. Vidocq feels some compunction just as the affair is arranged, con- 
fesses his imposture, and decamps. 
The money which the generosity of the infatuated baroness had sup- 
plied Vidocq was soon spent in debauchery. In consequence of a 
quarrel with a captain of engineers, whom he beats, he is sent to 
the prison of Lille, where the adventure takes place, which influences the 
whole of his future life. He is brought in contact with professed 
_ thieves and criminals of the most desperate and depraved habits. Among 
the prisoners were 
“two old serjeant-majors, Grouard and Herbaux, the latter, son of a boot- 
maker at Lille, both condemed for forgeries; and a labourer, named Boitel, 
condemned to six years’ confinement for stealing garden-tools ; this latter, who 
was the father of a large family, was always bewailing his imprisonment, 
which, he said, deprived him of the means of working a small farm, which he 
only knew how to turnto advantage. In spite of the crime he had committed, 
much interest was evinced in his favour, or rather towards his children, and 
many inhabitants of his district had drawn up and presented petitions in his 
favour, which were as yet unanswered, and the unfortunate man was in despair, 
often repeating that he would give such and such a sum for his liberty. Grou- 
ard and Herbaux, who were in St. Peter’s Tower, waiting to be sent to the 
gallies, thought they could get him pardoned by means of a memorial, which 
_ they drew up, or rather plotted together ; a plan which was ultimately so 
injurious to me. 
_ “ Grouard began to complain that he could not work quietly in the midst of 
the uproar of the common room, in which were eighteen prisoners singing, 
Swearing, and quarrelling allday. Boitel, who had done me some little kind 
offices, — me to lend my chamber. to the compilers of his memorial, and 
consented, although very unwillingly, to give it up to them for four hours a 
y- From the next morning they were there installed, and the jailor frequently 
Went there secretly. These comings and goings, and the mystery which per- 
_vaded them, would have awakened suspicions in a man accustomed to the 
- intrigues ofa prison ; but, ignorant of their plans, and occupied in drinking 
with the friends who visited me, I interested myself but too little with what 
Was going on in the Bull’s-eye. 
* At the end of eight days, they thanked me for my kindness, telling me that 
the memorial was concluded, and that they had every reason to hope for the 
pardon of the petitioner, without sending it to Paris, from the influence of the 
pmeprowy of the people at Lille. All this was not very clear to me, but 
I did not give it much attention, thinking it no business of mine ; and there 
