1829. ] a Police Officer. 59 
woman apparently dying, and the blood spouting from her mouth and nostrils ; 
beside her was a man, who appeared much distressed, assisting her. Jossas, 
testifying considerable emotion, told him that the best method of stopping the 
effusion of blood was to apply a key to the back of the female. But no one 
had a key, except the cashier, who at first offered that of his apartment. 
That had no effect. The cashier, alarmed at seeing the blood flow copiously, 
took out the key of his cash-chest, which was applied with much success 
between the shoulders of the patient. It has been already guessed that a 
piece of modelling wax had been placed there previously, and that the whole 
scene had been preconcerted. Three days after, the cash-box was empty.” 
In the course of his adventures, he becomes acquainted with the mem- 
bers of several of the famous bands of chauffeurs, who committed the 
most daring burglaries in the northern parts of France, and on the Bel- 
gian frontier. They appear to have acquired the name of chauffeurs, 
from their practice of torturing the victims, in order to make them con- 
fess where their money was hid. Placing lighted candles under the 
arm-pits, and hot tinder between their toes, of the farmers they robbed, 
seem to have been the most approved methods of extorting their confes- 
sions. Cornu, the father of a large family of robbers, and at this time 
an old man; “had been one of the most cruel, daring, and successful 
chauffeurs of his time, and his wife was the willing partner of his worst 
crimes. He was at length taken, tried at Rouen, and sentenced to death. 
The end of his life was, in every respect, worthy of him, and there is a 
cool humour in the manner of it, which, notwithstanding its horrid 
nature, almost accounts for his detestable son, Mulot’s, laughing at it.— 
Cornu’s wife, 
* who was still at liberty, came every day to bring him food, and console 
him. ‘ Listen,’ said she to him one morning, when he appeared more dejected 
than usual, ‘ listen, Joseph: they say that death affrights you—don’t play 
the noodle, at all events, when they lead you to the scaffold. The lads of the 
game will laugh at you.’ 
« © Yes,’ said Cornu, * all that is very fine, if one’s scrag was not in danger ; 
but with Jack Ketch on one side, and the black sheep (clergyman) on the 
other, and the traps (gens-d’armes) behind, it is not quite so pleasant to be 
turned into food for flies.’ 
_© © Joseph, Joseph, do not talk in this way; I am only a woman, you 
know ; but I could go through it as if at a wedding, and particularly with 
you, oldlad! Yes, I tell you again, by the word of Marguerite, I would 
willingly accompany you.’ 
«© Are you in earnest?’ asked Cornu. ‘ Yes, quite in earnest,’ sighed 
Marguerite. ‘ But what are you getting up for? What are you going to do?’ 
'“ © Nothing,’ replied Cornu; and then going to a turnkey who was in the 
passage, ‘ Roch, said he to him, ‘ send for the jailor, 1 want to see the pub- 
lic accuser.’ 
.* *What!’ said his wife, ‘the public accuser! Are you going to split 
(confess)? Ah, Joseph, consider what a reputation you will leave for our 
children !’ 
“Cornu was silent until the magistrate arrived, and he then denounced his 
wife ; and this unhappy woman, sentenced to death by his confessions, was 
executed at the same time with him. Mulot, who told me all this, never 
repeated the narrative without laughing till he cried.” 
In the midst of the distress which his own imprudence, and the false- 
hood of his companions, had brought upon him, Vidocq found ample 
time for reflection, on the painful and desperate nature of his position. 
An escaped criminal, he was always subject to be seized by the police ; 
and the ingenious and hazardous manner of his escapes had given a dan- 
gerous celebrity to his name. Almost precluded for this reason from 
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