"The Gentleman being convinced, in the course of the conversation, that _Monsieur de Sartine's_ intelligence was accurate in every particular, he refused to be personated, and formed an immediate resolution, literally, to follow the directions he had received: he accordingly went to bed at his usual hour, which was eleven o'clock.--At half past twelve (the time mentioned by _Monsieur De Sartine_), the door of the bed-chamber burst open, and three men entered with a _dark lantern_, _daggers_ and _pistols_.--The Gentleman, who of course was awake, perceived one of them to be his own servant.--They rifled his portmanteau, undisturbed, and settled the plan of putting him to death.--The Gentleman, hearing all this, and not knowing by what means he was to be rescued, it may naturally be supposed, was under great perturbation of mind during such an awful interval of suspense; when, at the moment the villains were preparing to commit the horrid deed, four Police Officers, acting under _Mons. De Sartine's_ orders, who were concealed under the bed, and in the closet, rushed out and seized the offenders with the property in their possession, and in the act of preparing to commit the murder. "The consequence was, that the perpetration of the atrocious deed was prevented, and sufficient evidence obtained to convict the offenders.--_Monsieur De Sartine's_ intelligence enabled him to _prevent_ this horrid offence of robbery and murder; which, but for the accuracy of the System, would probably have been carried into execution." Another Anecdote, was mentioned to the Author by the same Minister, relative to the Emperor Joseph the Second: "That Monarch, having, in the year 1787, formed and promulgated a new Code of Laws relative to criminal and civil offences;[166] and having also established what he conceived to be the best System of Police in Europe, he could scarcely ever forgive the French Nation, in consequence of the accuracy and intelligence of _Mons. De Sartine_ having been found so much superior to his own; notwithstanding the immense pains he had bestowed upon that department of his Government. [Footnote 166: Vide page 63 & _seq._ of this Volume.] "A very notorious offender, who was a subject of the Emperor, and who committed many atrocious acts of violence and depredation at Vienna, was traced to Paris by the Police established by His Majesty, who ordered his Ambassador at the Court of France to demand that this delinquent should be delivered up to Public Justice. "_Mons. De Sartine_ acknowledged to the Imperial Ambassador, that the person he inquired after had been in Paris;--that, if it would be any satisfaction, he could inform him where he had lodged, and the different gaming-tables, and other places of infamous resort, which he frequented while there;--but that he was now gone.--