[Here is a whole-length of a fine, slashing French thief, from the third
volume of Vidocq, the policeman's Memoirs, of which more anon:--]
Winter was only twenty-six, a handsome brown fellow, with arched
eyebrows, long lashes, prominent nose, and rakish air. Winter had,
moreover, that good carriage, and peculiar look, which belongs to an
officer of light cavalry, and he, therefore, assumed a military costume,
which best displayed the graces of his person. One day he was an hussar,
the next a lancer, and then again in some fancy uniform. At will he was
chief of a squadron, commandant, aide-de-camp, colonel, &c.; and to
command more consideration, he did not fail to give himself a
respectable parentage; he was by turns the son of the valiant Lasalle,
of the gallant Winter, colonel of the grenadiers of the imperial
horse-guard; nephew of the general Comte de Lagrange, and cousin-german
to Rapp; in fact, there was no name which he did not borrow, no
illustrious family to which he did not belong. Born of parents in a
decent situation of life, Winter had received an education sufficiently
brilliant to enable him to aspire to all these metamorphoses; the
elegance of his manner, and a most gentlemanly appearance, completed
the illusion.
Few men had made a better début than Winter. Thrown early into the
career of arms, he obtained very rapid promotion; but when an officer he
soon lost the esteem of his superiors; who, to punish his misconduct,
sent him to the Isle of Ré, to one of the colonial battalions. There
he so conducted himself as to inspire a belief that he had entirely
reformed. But no sooner was he raised a step, than committing some fresh
peccadillo, he was compelled to desert in order to avoid punishment.
He came thence to Paris, where his exploits as swindler and pickpocket
procured him the unenviable distinction of being pointed out to the
police as one of the most skilful in his twofold profession.
Winter, who was what is termed a _downy one_, plucked a multitude
of _gulpins_ even in the most elevated classes of society. He
visited princes, dukes, the sons of ancient senators, and it was on
them or the ladies of their circle that he made the experiments of his
misapplied talents. The females, particularly, however squeamish they
were, were never sufficiently so to prevent themselves from being
plundered by him. For several months the police were on the look out for
this seducing young man, who, changing his dress and abode incessantly,
escaped from their clutch at the moment when they thought they had him
securely, when I received orders to commence the chase after him, to
attempt his capture.
Winter was one of those Lovelaces who never deceive a woman without
robbing her. I thought that amongst his victims I could find at least
one, who, from a spirit of revenge, would be disposed to put me on the
scent of this monster. By dint of searching, I thought I had met with a
willing auxiliary, but as these Ariadnes, however ill used or forsaken
they may be, yet shrink from the immolation of their betrayer, I
determined to accost the damsel I met with cautiously. It was necessary,
before I ventured my bark, to take soundings, and I took care not to
manifest any hostility towards Winter, and not to alarm that residue of
tenderness, which, despite of ill usage, always remains in a sensitive
heart. I made my appearance in the character of almoner of the regiment
of which he was thought to command, and as such introduced to the
ci-devant mistress of the pretended colonel. The costume, the language,
the manner I assumed were in perfect unison with the character I was
about to play, and I obtained to my wish the confidence of the fair
forsaken one, who gave me unwittingly all the information I required.
She pointed out to me her favoured rival, who, already ill-treated by
Winter, had still the weakness to see him, and could not forbear making
fresh sacrifices for him.
I became acquainted with this charming lady, and to obtain favour in her
eyes, announced myself as a friend of her lover's family. The relatives
of the young giddy pate had empowered me to pay his debts; and if she
could contrive an interview with him for me, she might rely on being
satisfied with the result of the first. Madame ------ was not sorry to
have an opportunity of repairing the dilapidations made on her property,
and one morning sent me a note, stating that she was going to dine
with her lover the next day at the Boulevard du Temple, at La Galiote.
At four o'clock I went, disguised as a messenger, and stationed myself
at the door of the restaurant's; and after two hours' watch, I saw a
colonel of hussars approach. It was Winter, attended by two servants.
I went up to him, and offered to take care of the horses, which proffer
was accepted. Winter alighted, he could not escape me, but his eyes met
mine, and with one jump he flung himself on his horse, spurred him, and
disappeared.
I thought I had him, and my disappointment was great; but I did not
despair of catching my gentleman. Some time afterwards I learnt that
he was to be at the Café Hardi, in the Boulevard des Italiens. I went
thither with some of my agents, and when he arrived all was so well
arranged, that he had only to get into a hackney coach, of which I paid
the fare. Led before a commissary of police, he asserted that he was
not Winter; but, despite the insignia of the rank he had conferred on
himself, and the long string of orders hanging on his breast, he was
properly and officially identified as the individual mentioned in the
warrant which I had for his apprehension.
Winter was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment, and would now be at
liberty but for a forgery which he committed while at Bicêtre, which,
bringing on him a fresh sentence of eight years at the galleys, he was
conducted to the Bagne at the expiration of his original sentence, and
is there at present.
This adventurer does not want wit: he is, I am told, the author of a
vast many songs, much in fashion with the galley slaves, who consider
him us their Anacreon.
* * * * *