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So in his desire for vengeance, to which the examining judge had given play under the necessity of identifying Jacques Collin, the chief of the "Safety" had very skilfully chosen his allies by setting la Pouraille, Fil-de-Soie, and le Biffon on the sham Spaniard for la Pouraille and Fil-de-Soie both belonged to the "Ten-thousand," and le Biffon was a "Great Pal."
Fil-de-Soie and le Biffon were always wheedling la Pouraille, who had lost all hope. The murderer knew that he would be tried, sentenced, and executed within four months. It is easy to understand why Fil-de-Soie and le Biffon should fawn on la Pouraille.
"And so the fair Madeleine has received the last sacraments?" said la Pouraille, and he swallowed a deep mouthful of air. "Poor little Theodore!" cried le Biffon; "he is a pretty chap too. The warder went towards the gate, thinking that Jacques Collin was at his heels.
"Oh, my good Biffon," said la Pouraille, "our boss is more powerful than God Almighty." "What is your password for her?" asked Jacques Collin, with the assurance of a master to whom nothing can be refused. If you say that she knows you have come from me, and if you want her to do as you bid her, show her a five-franc piece and say Tondif."
Le Biffon and Fil-de-Soie would be sentenced for a term of fifteen years for robbery with violence, without prejudice to the ten years' penal servitude on a former sentence, which they had taken the liberty of cutting short. So, though one had twenty-two and the other twenty-six years of imprisonment to look forward to, they both hoped to escape, and come back to find la Pouraille's mine of gold.
What a loss to society!" "Yes, Theodore Calvi is yamming his last meal," said le Biffon. "His trips will pipe their eyes, for the little beggar was a great pet." "So you're here, old chap?" said la Pouraille to Jacques Collin. And, arm-in-arm with his two acolytes, he barred the way to the new arrival. "Why, Boss, have you got yourself japanned?" he went on.
Le Biffon was a complete contrast to Fil-de-Soie. This famous robber, short, burly, and fat, but active, with a livid complexion, and deep-set black eyes, dressed like a cook, standing squarely on very bandy legs, was alarming to behold, for in his countenance all the features predominated that are most typical of the carnivorous beast.
Jacques Collin's wig was eminently ecclesiastical, and wonderfully natural. "Hallo!" said la Pouraille to le Biffon, "that's a bad sign! A rook! How did he come here?" To complete our study of the prison-yard, two more of the prisoners must be hastily sketched in.
The next thing is to bring a moll into the case by blowing the gaff." "But how, and what for?" "Do as I bid you; you will see." And Trompe-la-Mort briefly told the secret of the Nanterre murders, showing him how necessary it was to find a woman who would pretend to be Ginetta. Then he and la Pouraille, now in good spirits, went across to le Biffon.
"She will be involved in the sentence on la Pouraille, and let off with a year in quod for snitching," said Jacques Collin, looking at la Pouraille. La Pouraille understood his boss' scheme, and by a single look promised to persuade le Biffon to promote it by inducing la Biffe to take upon herself this complicity in the crime la Pouraille was prepared to confess. "Farewell, my children.
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