“The majority of the thieves in this particular line commence their incursions with morning, at the hour when the housekeepers go out for their cream, or have a gossip whilst their masters and mistresses are in bed.  Other bonjouriers do not open the campaign until near dinner time; they pitch upon the moment when the plate is laid upon the table.  They enter, and in the twinkling of an eye, they cause spoons, forks, ladles, &c. to vanish.  This is technically termed goupiner a la desserte, (clearing the cloth).

“One day one of these goupineurs a la desserte was on the look out in a dining room, when a servant entered carrying two silver dishes, between which were some fish.  Without being at all disconcerted, he went up to her, and said—­’Well, go and bring up the soup, the gentlemen are in a hurry.’

“‘Yes, sir,’ said the maid, taking him for one of the guests, ’it is quite ready, and if you please you can announce the dinner.’

“At the same time she ran to the kitchen, and the goupineur, after having hastily emptied the dishes, thrust them between his waistcoat and shirt.  The girl returned with the broth, the pretended guest had retired, and there was not a single piece of silver left on the table.  They denounced this theft to me, and from the statement given, as well as the description of the person committing the robbery, I thought I had recognised my man.  He was called Cheinaux, alias Bayer, and was discovered and apprehended in Saint Catherine’s market.  His shirt was marked with the circumference of the dishes, in consequence of the remains of the sauce left in them.

“Another body of bonjouriers more particularly direct their talents to furnished houses.

“The individuals forming this class are on foot from the dawn of day.  Their talent is evinced by the adroit mode in which they baffle the vigilance of the porters.  They go up the staircase, sometimes on one pretext, and sometimes on another, look round them, and if they find any keys in the doors, which is common enough, they turn them with the least possible noise.  Once in the room, if the occupant be asleep, farewell to his purse, his watch, his jewels, and all that he has that is valuable.  If he awakes, the visiter has a thousand excuses ready.

“‘A thousand pardons, sir, I thought this was No. 13;’ or, ’Was it you, sir, who sent for a bootmaker, tailor, hairdresser,’” &c. &c.

The Detourneurs and Detourneuses.

“The robbery a la detourne is that which is effected whilst making purchases at a shop.  This species of plunder is practised by individuals of both sexes; but the detourneuses, or lady prigs, are generally esteemed more expert than the detourneurs, or gentlemen prigs.  The reason of this superiority consists entirely in the difference of dress; women can easily conceal a very large parcel.