\"CharlesCrochard’sfirstobjectonbeingliberatedwasvengeanceonToupillier,andhisfirststepwastodenouncehimtothepoliceasreceiverofthestolenproperty。Takeninhandbythelaw,Toupillierdefendedhimselfwithsuchsingulargood—humor,beingabletoshowthatnoproofwhateverexistedagainsthim,thattheexaminingjudgelethimoff。Helosthisplace,however,asgiverofholywater,obtaining,withgreatdifficulty,permissiontobegatthedoorofthechurch。Formypart,Iwascertainofhisguilt;andImanagedtohavetheclosestwatchkeptuponhim;thoughIreliedfarmoreuponmyself。
Beingamanofmeansandleisure,Istuck,asyoumaysay,totheskinofmythief,anddid,inordertounmaskhim,oneofthecleverestthingsofmycareer。HewaslivingatthattimeintherueduCoeur—
Volant。Isucceededinbecomingthetenantoftheroomadjoininghis;
andonenight,throughagimletholeIhaddrilledinthepartition,I
sawmymantakethecaseofdiamondsfromaverycleverlycontrivedhiding—place。Hesatforanhourgazingatthemandfondlingthem;hemadethemsparkleinthelight,hepressedthempassionatelytohislips。Themanactuallylovedthosediamondsforthemselves,andhadneverthoughtofturningthemtomoney。\"