him confess his guilt; but he persisted in avowing himself innocent, and, for lack of proof to the contrary, the charge was about to be dropped altogether, when to preserve it for a time, I set an agent of mine to work.  He, clothed in a military uniform, with his left arm in a sling, went with a billet to the house where Moiselet’s wife lived.  He was supposed to have just left the hospital, and was only to stay at Livry for forty-eight hours; but a few moments after his arrival, he had a fall, and a pretended sprain suddenly occurred, which put it out of his power to continue his route.  It was then indispensable for him to delay, and the mayor decided that he should remain with the cooper’s wife until further orders.

The cooper’s wife was charmed with his many little attentions.  The soldier could write, and became her secretary; but the letters which she addressed to her dear husband were of a nature not to compromise her—­not the least expression that can have a twofold construction—­it was innocence corresponding with innocence.  At length, after a few day’s experience, I was convinced that my agent, in spite of his talent, would draw no profit from his mission.  I then resolved to manoeuvre in person, and, disguised as a travelling hawker, I began to visit the environs of Livry.  I was one of those Jews who deal in every thing,—­clothes, jewels, &c. &c.; and I took in exchange gold, silver, jewels, in fact, all that was offered me.  An old female robber, who knew the neighbourhood perfectly, accompanied me in my tour:  she was the widow of a celebrated thief, Germain Boudier, called Father Latuil, who, after having undergone half-a-dozen sentences, died at last at Saint Pelagie.  I flattered myself that Madame Moiselet, seduced by her eloquence, and by our merchandize, would bring out the store of the Cure’s crowns, some brilliant of the purest water, nay, even the chalice or paten, in case the bargain should be to her liking.  My calculation was not verified; the cooper’s wife was in no haste to make a bargain, and her coquetry did not get the better of her.

The Jew hawker was soon metamorphosed into a German servant; and under this disguise I began to ramble about the vicinity of Pontoise, with a design of being apprehended.  I sought out the gendarmes, whilst I pretended to avoid them; but they, thinking I wished to get away from them, demanded a sight of my papers.  Of course I had none, and they desired me to accompany them to a magistrate, who, knowing nothing of the jargon in which I replied to his questions, desired to know what money I had; and a search was forthwith commenced in his presence.  My pockets contained some money and valuables, the possession of which seemed to astonish him.  The magistrate, as curious as a commissary, wished to know how they came into my hands; and I sent him to the devil with two or three Teutonic oaths, of the most polished kind; and he, to teach me better manners another time, sent me to prison.