There are of this class thieves of incredible effrontery; that of one
Beaumont almost surpasses belief. Escaped from the Bagne at Rochefort,
where he was sentenced to pass twelve years of his life, he came to Paris,
and scarcely had he arrived there, where he had already practised, when, by
way of getting his hand in, he committed several trifling robberies, and
when by these preliminary steps he had proceeded to exploits more worthy of
his ancient renown, he conceived the project of stealing a treasure. No one
will imagine that this treasure was that of the _Bureau Central_ (Central
Office), now the Prefecture of Police! It was already pretty difficult to
procure impressions of the keys, but he achieved this first difficulty, and
soon had in his possession all the means of effecting an opening; but to
open was nothing, it was necessary to open without being perceived, to
introduce himself without fear of being disturbed, to work without
witnesses, and go out again freely. Beaumont, who had calculated all the
difficulties that opposed him, was not dismayed. He had remarked that the
private room of the chief officer, M. Henri, was nigh to the spot where he
proposed to effect his entrance; he espied the propitious moment, and
wished sincerely that some circumstance would call away so dangerous a
neighbour for some time, and chance was subservient to his wishes."

"One morning, M. Henri was obliged to go out. Beaumont, sure that he would
not return that day, ran to his house, put on a black coat, and in that
costume, which, in those days, always announced a magistrate, or public
functionary, presents himself at the entrance of the _Bureau Central_. The
officer to whom he addressed himself supposed, of course, that he was at
least a commissary. On the invitation of Beaumont, he gave him a soldier,
whom he placed as sentinel at the entrance to the narrow passage which
leads to the depôt, and commanded not to allow any person to pass. No
better expedient could be found for preventing surprise. Thus Beaumont, in
the midst of a crowd of valuable objects, could, at his leisure, and in