shadow of britain

Chapter 212

Bayswater District, in the living room of Arthur's mansion.

Dumas, Arthur and Victor sat at the dining table in the living room.

While pouring tea for Vidok, Arthur quietly listened to the story told by the best criminal investigator in the world.

"I'm actually not as legendary as everyone thinks. Since you have read my published "Memoirs", you should also understand that I have been an out-and-out little bastard since I was five or six years old.

Of course, this has more or less something to do with my own brother.Our family owned a bakery in Ostend, and my brother and I used to steal money from the shop when we were kids.

After my father discovered this behavior, he sent my brother to a tailor in Lille as an apprentice in a rage, but I escaped because of my young age and my mother's intercession.

However, I did not repent at this point, but intensified it.When I couldn’t steal the money from the store, I stole the silver tableware from the house, and played oboe with my cronies, pretending to kidnap me and ask my family for ransom.

But my parents found out that time, and I went to jail for the first time. If I remember correctly, I was locked up for two weeks. "

When Arthur heard this, he couldn't help joking: "Mr. Vidock, you have to be grateful that you were born in France. If you were here with us, even if you can't be hanged for these crimes, you will have to be exiled to Australia."

Vidok laughed loudly and said, "Exile to Australia? In that case, maybe it's really what I want. I was a thirteen or fourteen-year-old bastard at that time. I stole two thousand francs from my home and focused on I wanted to go to the Americas. Before I left France, I was scammed out of my money. During that time, I could only make a living by pretending to be dwarves from the West India in a circus and living with cannibals.”

Arthur asked: "Then how did you leave the circus and go to Paris?"

Hearing this, Vidok was a little embarrassed but also vaguely proud. He raised his eyebrows and said with a smile: "It's embarrassing to say, but it's been so many years, and it's an interesting anecdote when I think about it now. I The reason why I was kicked out of the circus was because I had a relationship with the director's wife.

It was a young and pretty lady who kindly took me in when I had nothing to eat.Looking back now, among the women I have met in my life, maybe she is the only one who treats me sincerely.

As for others, like the actress in Paris, or the wife who came to marry me without telling me that she was pregnant with someone else's child, although we also had a happy time.But when I was down and down, they all left me one after another. "

Arthur took a sip of tea and said, "Although I may make you unhappy by saying this, I think formal communication and being a lover are two completely different concepts. The former requires a material foundation, while the latter requires both No responsibility, so just get together and play. If that circus lady married you, you'd probably feel the same way for her as actresses and wives do."

Vidok was leaning on the chair with a piece of rusk in his mouth. He laughed loudly, "Young man, don't you think life is boring if you insist on telling things so straightforwardly?"

Arthur smiled and nodded, "I do feel that way occasionally."

Vidocq took off his hat and put it on the table: "But being straightforward is indeed one of the indispensable qualities of a good detective. Not long ago, I investigated a theft case in Paris where the company's money was unaccounted for. You Do you know how I solved the case?"

Arthur smiled and said: "If you are willing to enlighten me, I would like to hear your opinion on this kind of case."

Vidok said: "When I arrived at the company, I first asked the relevant personnel who handled the money, and then pointed to a 45-year-old bookkeeper and said that this woman is a criminal.

No one who was there believed me, but after a follow-up investigation, it turned out that I was right.We found a large amount of money and jewels of unknown origin in the house of the bookkeeper. "

When Arthur heard this, he couldn't help asking curiously: "You can make a judgment just by knowing a few people involved in the case? How did you find out?"

Vidok patted his thigh and laughed loudly: "I didn't see it, but smelled it. Just like the early experience I told you just now, I understood it from the circus lady—— A woman who smells of expensive perfume at nine o'clock in the morning must be doing it for some man, and if the woman has a lover, that lover is her motive for stealing money.

Facts have also proved this point. The reason why the female bookkeeper of the company stole the company's property was all to support a lazy and extravagant little boy. "

Arthur couldn't help laughing when he heard this: "Don't you know more about life than I do? If so, why do you still write yourself as if you don't understand anything in the book?"

Vidok picked his ear with his little finger: "No way, if I don't write anything, how can I sell my "Memoirs"? Do you want me to point at the readers' noses in the book and yell-you selfish people My guy, in fact, even my underwear has been seen through by me?
Please, writing a book is not really handling a case, you have to leave some room for fantasy for everyone.In this way, they gain a sense of security and satisfaction, I can also earn a lot of money, and everyone has a bright future. "

Arthur thought that this big figure in the French police circle would be a serious person, but after contacting him, he found that Mr. Vidock was obviously much easier to get along with than he imagined.

But after thinking about it, how can a guy who can enjoy both black and white in France be a person who puts on airs and doesn't eat the fireworks of the world?
Of course, Arthur didn't dare to believe all of Vidok's words.

After all, he didn't forget how the other party made his fortune. In order to get rid of the hanging, he didn't hesitate to use his former gangster brother to submit a certificate to the Paris police department.

If Arthur remembers correctly, Vidoc personally participated in 811 arrests in his first year in charge of the Paris Criminal Investigation Bureau.On average, at least two brothers are sacrificed every day. Handling cases with this efficiency is enough to show Vidok's social and investigative abilities.

François Vidock is certainly not a bad guy in the absolute sense, but he is not a good guy either.But fortunately, Arthur is also such a person.

Perhaps, as Vidok said, having two faces is also one of the necessary qualities to be able to do intelligence work?

Arthur and Vidok were talking happily. Suddenly, Dumas, who was sitting on the opposite chair reading Hugo's letter, raised his eyebrows and asked, "Mr. Vidok, you and Mr. Hugo also mean the same thing? Think?" Want to persuade me to return home?"

Vidok leaned on the chair and said: "I won't give you any advice. As for whether you go back or not, it's up to you. You should also know that after the death of Louis XVIII, Marc Duples was appointed Grand Since the head of the Paris Police Department, I have been suppressed by the department, so I resigned in a fit of anger.

After the July Revolution, if it hadn't been for the repeated invitation of the new director, I would not have wanted to come out of the arena again.You have been away from the police and power circles for so long, so I don't know what the attitude of the higher-ups is towards you.

But since Hugo dares to persuade you to go back, it's probably because he got some rumors, right?If you think his words are credible and you are not used to staying in London, then you may also consider returning to Paris. "

When Dumas heard this, he glanced at the letter in his hand again, hesitated again and again, and replied solemnly: "Of course I am eager to return to the land of France, but I don't think it should be now. I just talked to a literary writer in London. The magazine has reached a one-year contribution agreement, if I leave now, it will be regarded as a breach of contract."

Hearing this, Vidok said with regret: "Is that so? That would be a pity. But I can understand you. Writers, once they start writing, they can't put it down until they finish writing. So does Honore." Such."

After finishing speaking, he took out a book from the small bag he carried and put it on the table: "I didn't bring you any presents when I came here this time. To satisfy your hunger, you will not be too lonely in a foreign country, at least you can see the literary works of your hometown. By the way, this new book contains deeds based on me."

Arthur stared at the cover of the book. Although he didn't know much French, there was no problem with the simple spelling of the name.

Author: Honoré de Balzac
As for the title of the book, although Arthur couldn't read it, he guessed that it was probably "Human Comedy".

(End of this chapter)