It would be difficult to describe the strange tone in which this
narrative was related. The undulation of the phrases, their stops and
their stations, then the peculiar monotone in which the words fell
from Théophraste’s lips while he was in the hypnotic sleep. His face
sometimes expressed anger, sometimes contempt, and sometimes terror.
M. Lecamus, who had seen Cartouche’s portrait, recalled that at
certain times there was a striking resemblance to that of Théophraste.
Just as he was relating the incident of passing Magdelen, and the
downpour of rain, Théophraste’s face showed a most peculiar
expression, changing from joy to most overwhelming despair.
M. Eliphaste, leaning over the bed, asked him: “What then,
Cartouche?”
Théophraste replied in a rattling voice: “I killed a passerby.”
The operation continued, but it was only by degrees that M. Eliphaste
wished to bring Cartouche to the hour of his death. Before making him
live his death, it was necessary to make him live a little of his life.
That was the reason that M. Eliphaste had thrown the spirit of Cartouche
back to the month of April, 1721.
Though the minutes following were terrible for the onlookers, they were
worse for Cartouche, who was passing through the end of his career the
second time.
It was not until October 11, 1721, that the treason bore fruit.
Coustard, sergeant in the company of Cha-bannes, took forty men and
four sergeants with him, all of whom were designated by Duchatelle,
Cartouche’s lieutenant, who had betrayed him. This little army, in
citizen clothes, concealing its arms very mysteriously, surrounded the
house pointed out by Duchatelle.
It could not have been more than nine o’clock in the evening when they
arrived in sight of the tavern, Au Pictolet, kept by Germain Tassard and
his wife, near the Rue des Trois Bornes. Tassard was smoking his pipe on
the doorstep, when Duchatelle came up and demanded, “Is there nobody
upstairs? No? Where are the four ladies?”
Tassard, who expected this question, said, “Go up.”
The little troop rushed in, and when they came to the room above, they
found Boloquy and Cartouche drinking wine before the fireplace. Gaillard
was in bed, and Cartouche was seated on the bed, mending his breeches.
They rushed upon him. The attack was so sudden that he had no time to
make any resistance. They tied him with strong ropes, and, placing him
in the coach, took him prisoner to Monsieur the Secretary of State. Then
he was taken to the Grande Châtelet.
He was in his shirt, having had no time to put on his breeches. He kept
cool, congratulating the lieutenant who had betrayed him on the fine
livery he wore.
As the coach passed down the road, it nearly crushed some poor wretch
who was in the way, and Cartouche, seeing his plight, shouted to him
that phrase which he seemed to have affected, “It is necessary to look
out for the wheel.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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