bles in operation every night, whilst his
emissaries were on the watch for new arrivals, and for those who had
recently come into property.

In general, rogues soon betray themselves by some stupid bungle; but
such was not the case with this man; he defended himself, as it were, on
all sides, and always kept himself in position so as to oppose to
each of his vices the proof positive of the contrary virtues. Thus, if
accused of usury, he could prove that he had lent, without interest,
considerable sums of money. Cowardly and base in a tete-a-tete, he was
bold and redoubtable in public; those who had made him tremble in secret
were then compelled to acknowledge him a man of courage. Even his more
than suspected probity was defended by such as believed themselves his
depositaries, whereas they were, in point of fact, only receivers of
stolen property.

Affable, insinuating to a degree, he might be compared to those brigands
of Egypt who embraced their victims in order to strangle them.(1) He
never showed more devotedness than when he meditated some perfidy, nor
more assurance than when convicted of the rascality. Playing fast and
loose with honour and the laws, he was sure to find, when threatened by
the arm of justice, the female relatives of the judges themselves
taking his part and doing their best to 'get him off.' Such was this
extraordinary chevalier d'industrie, who might have gone on with his
diabolical perpetrations had he not, at last, attempted too much,
failing in the grandest stroke he had ever meditated--and yet a vulgar
fraud--when he was convicted, branded, and sent to the galleys.(2)

(1) Senec., Epist. Ii. (2) Dusaulx, De la Passion du Jeu.

The following narrative elucidates a still more modern phase of this
elegant 'industry.' My authority is M. Robert-Houdin.

CAUGHT IN A TRAP.

M. Olivier de ---- was a dissipated young gentleman. His family was
one of the oldest and most respectable of the country, and deservedly
enjoyed the highest consideration. M. Olivier de ----, his father, was
not rich, and therefore could not do much for his son; the consequence
was that owing to his outrageous prodigality the son was sorely pinched
for means to keep up his position; he exhausted his credit, and was soon
overwhelmed with debt. Among the companions of his dissipation was a
young man whose abundant means filled him with admiration and envy; he
lived like a prince and had not a single creditor. One day he as