The Story Of Raoul Surian

"Le stjie, c'cst rkoimn." Monsieur Buflon invented tlio phrase - it ia somotliiug more than a mol - and tlie pólice funush a practical npplication of it. The identity of all the crimináis is measurably arrived at by the polico knowing tlio stylo iu whioh thoy opérate. This style is the key to what woukl otherwise be an impenetrable ciphor. The instructed experts of the Paris pólice aro ablo to determine with a precisión and certainty whioh seem marvolous to tho uninitiated, whose hand it was committed a certnin robbery, or vioated the laws in any crucial way. Baoul Surian, a criminal of distingnished ominence, had a style of his own that, while very succoaiful in its peuniary results, wa very troublesome in ts consoqueuee to him, since it was so xlainly markcd as to be immediately reognized by the pólice. Henee, each me he "operated" he was sm-o to be rrested, and not always safe to escape onviction. As his oporations were minerous and extensive he W88 often conicted, and at thc age of 40 liad passed teen of the last twenty yeai-s of his lifo n prison. Raoul Surian, called Freluquet, was de son of an optician and instrument l&ker of Marseüles, and folio wed the rade of his faüier until his 19th year, vhen he carac up to Paris to Beek his ortune. He first becamo known to the jolice tlmmgh a rapid sucoession of windling operations, vcry auceossfnlly eontrived, for the deiivery of good's whioh he did not possess and the appropriation of money which was not lm owi). Finally convicted, he was senfcenoed to close confluement for throe years, and graduatod frora prisou a yery accomplished chevalier d'industrie. His operations now nssumad a bolder character, and ho wrked in a largor field. Ho ! was again convictod of deern viug a wealthy bourgeois and obtaining a "loan" from him of 100,000 francs. This time he servod five years. A third conviction insnred him a close confinement of flve years more. At the expiration of this last sontence Raoul Surian returned to Paris and announced lxis intention to "reform." He had saved a little money by extra labor in prison, his lather was dead, and ho set up a small shop at Belleville for the sale of spectacles eye-glassos and mathematical instrumente. He was closely observod by the pólice, but soeinod to conduot himself in the most exemplary manner. His passport at this time doscrïbed a man of ordinary height and ügiure, modest but manly earriage, face rather pale, blonde hair, no beard, and largo, ! liquid, noticeable blue oyes. The face, ! so the signalement d!clai'od, was ingeimOUs, frank, open, Avith a rather engaging ' smile, but none of the features were I striking, unless it wero tho eyes. He ] was a great favorite with the polieo, who ] had necessarily a great solicitudo on his I beha] f, for, instead of avoiding them, he ! assiduously cultiyated their ! anee, made them little presente and gave a few francs now and then to tho fonds for the support of indigent crimináis, : and for tho burial of deceasod nergentx de ville. Ho admitted, with many '■ shrugs of the shoulders, that ho had boen a bad subject, but claimed that ho was shrewd enough to understand that in any contest betwixt him and tho law j he was certain to fall underneath. He liad tried it Beveral times, and was quite well satisfied with the punishment he had received. In short, his reforination was definitive and complete. After a few months' shop-keeping at ! Bolleville Surian sold otrt his establishment. Ho liad made a good deaj of money, he said, speculating in shares at tho Bourse, and did not need any longer to continuo the drudgery of ! ing. He now reuted a modest apartrrmnt on the third floor of a handsome house ; in a street not far from tho Boulevard des Ituliens - a drawing-room, dressing-room, breakfiist-parlor, two bed-rooms, room for servant, and a small room which he called the laboratory. Here he installed ! "Madame " Surian, a very handsome and ! vivacious brunette, understood to have been a certain Mdlle. Oytheroe, not nuknown to frequenters of the coulisses of the opera. In his " laboratory " Surimi had a stock of furnaces, crucibles, wlieels I and various other instruments, and cast and ground glasses for optical and other instrument, for which he received niany orders, being accounted a skillful andingenious workman. He had an assistant, a stolid-looking Alsatian, named Jules Gochen. His principal work, however, : seemed to he at the Bourse, where he speedily bocame known as a daring operator, who would carry tho hoaviest load of abaros iu the face of the most arduous difficulties, who always acoopted his successes with modesty, and paid his losses promptly at matuiity. Ak the pólice kept the secrel oí lus past life faithfiilly, nul he bimself, of course, did nul disclose I, it oame generally in be admitted that Baoul Surian ras :i very wealthy peiBon, who had made his money by following civil engineering in South America, andretumed tu Paris to speud it like a gentleman. In 1869 tliero was a remendona efïbrt made at the Bourse to "corner" tho shares of tho Serbo-Moldavian raüway. The "corner" was broken prematniely, and a great Blaughtet etiHuod innong tlie "1)ii11h." Amniif tlioso punished most Beverely wüh M. Itnoul Nurian, whoso not loases, it was whispered, ezoeeded 750,000 francs, He oame up gallantly.i howover, paid overy centime, and, as if to show ho was not hurt, set up a upe of hiaown. "Madame" had alxeady Long been in thehabit of driving to the Bois in a ygüj bandsome turuout, but. that, it ! was understood, was hired onJy. Simnltaneouflly an operation of another kind agitated financial centers and nt traoted the undivided attentio of Üie lohco. Bills on Amerioan account aggregating over flve millions of francs were sold in London, l'aiis, AjKgterctam aud Hamburg whicli were foaiid to be forgeries. The polioe, aftei long consultation and conjtwisón of dagfayfrtiHiytio room to doulTt tiiat all these operationa were tho work of one man. and that tho " Bty Ie " waa that of the onco eminent, but how reformed, contidenco man, M. Baoul SarJao. A couplo of Üie most trusty ftgeöts wore dotailed to "work up"the case, and, al the end of throe weeks, Burian was arreeted and confrontad witli the Ijorties in tho several citio? whohftd been victimized ly tho forger. It was knowfi that Siu-ifin had boon absont from .Paris, and it was hoped to identiiy him beyond ! mistako .Tust l]pre( h O wever, a most i expocted hitch oocurred. The swindler was said to bo " something liko" Surian, but he had gray cyes, dark haft and light blonde beard. The witnesses wore unanimous as to the color nnd appearance of the eyess, whioh ware describcd as being as diilerent as possiblo from the suspocted man's e.yes; imd Burian was accordin gly discharged. Not satisüed with this, Surian went to pólice headquarters and complaiued of me mjury aone to nis cnaractor una business by thiu arrest upoii so alight a íabric of suspioion. Ho laid before the i head of the departmont what pretended ! to bo a full exhibit of his business aftairs, and whieh showed that after all hLs dobts were paid he would Btill have a surplus ; of 3,000,000 francs. " One doos not steal nndor such circumstances, " said Surian. ! The delinquent agenta wero reprimanded ! and Surian went home apparently well i contented. It is probable, however, tliat he susI pectod what was actually the case; that he was beinjar carefully and nssidiously watched. IIo contracted Bifl speculative operations very materially, and a millioii in gold wliieh he had on doposit in the ; Bank of Frunce was drawn out and shipped to America, to partios unknown to the authorities. The outbrcak of the ' Franco-Pruusian war, however, took : Surian to the Boursc agaiu, and he was long of "Bentes" when the calamity of Weissonburg overtook Franoe. Surian j went down with the funds, and ! promised with his creditors with a 'doflcit I ■ of a million and a half. Two weeks later I he was agaiu arrestad for passing ome 1 20,000,000 francs of fraudulont quartermasters' drafts. Thís timo the pólice feit suro thoy had Surian, but the boffling matter of identity again sprang up. The actual criminal had a general resemblanco to Surian, except that his hair and mustacho were dark, and liis evos as black as jet. The authorities woro dumbfounded. The tentimony, however, was direct and uneontrovcrtiblo, and, j after a soarching raid upon Siman's house, where, however, nothing was discoverod which tended to crimínate him, the ox-convict was agüin released, The Germans rapidly threw their tromendous cordons arouud Paris, irail the memorable neige of tlic great city began. Surian joiaad a regiment of voluntoers and went on duty. Theposition assigncd liis company was the charge of a picket post outsido the fort of Vanvres, where the Prussian breaching batterios Were ihially established. One day he and four of his companions were surprised ly some UUlans riding in the gray of the morning. The other men were speared, and Surian was reportcd missing, " killed orcaptured." Tweiity-four hour; later Surian appeared at his post agaiu and reported fcr duty. Me had fled, he ' said, under the cellar of a house, and j oould not got away any sooner. Three days later he was arrestad with a show of great solemuity, and earried before General Vülot, commander of the división to which he was atlaehed. The Oolonel of the regiment and many other offlcers j were present. "Is this the man?" asked General Villot, jiointing to Surain, and acco8ting a person in Prussian uniform, j "That is the man 1 aw at "Varsaüles I four days ago," said the spy; "I am j willing to swear to him. He carne up tho street escorted by Uhlans, and went directly into M. de Bismarek's headiuiarters. I saw him myself. " " You are charged with nu offense the penalty of whish is death, Suriau," said General Villot. "What havo you to say for yourself? Did you givo information to the enomy?" "You say you saw me.'" cried Surian, turiiinghis full face upon the spy; " are you very suro you saw me?" The spy staggered back, aghast. ' ' Moii Dieu! no! no! I will not swear! The man I saw going int Count Bismarek's quarters had certainly brown eyes; and yours are blue." Siu'ian thus escaped again. lic, went into Paris for the iirst time since the seige began. Apparently the stato of his domestic ménage did not Ruit him. At auy rate his coming creatod a great disturbauce in the ïieighborhood ; tlie fair Cytheria left the house in tears aud vowing vengeance, and the impafiaivc Jules Gochen was arrestad as a Pruasian K]y, upOB specific charges laid by llaoul i Surian, convicted, and shot. Soon after this came tho surrender and the Commune. During the ephemeral reign of M. Ensebe Birambrot at ! pólice headquarters, a dark-browed , beauty came and laid charges of' treason and incivism against M. Baoul Surian. She gave hei name as Mdle. Cytheree, and said that Surian, onc of the adroitest ! robbers of the age, who continually I caped conviction through his sul)tle disguises, had been in constant oommunioation with tho Germans during the siego, i Her charges were Bupported liy one Qtaílaúd, formerly of the pólice. On the other hand, Surian, who was present, and was a Gommvuiard Golonrl of Artillery, and high iu favor with the sections of Belleville, proved that M. ( Jalla ml was an ex-mouchard and a Napoleonist, and that Mdlle. Cytheree had i roised herself with ,íules (Jochen, ! sian spy, lately executed. Birambrot dismissed the charges and the witneases, and Suriau returned to liis cannon. On the night after the Versaülists broke into Paris, Surian diflappaaj-ed. He lelt, tll( lmltiTV il l?ell'iilw, fJTOpOS ing to return in nye mintttes ith gome percussion (oses, which were needed. He did not come back at all. He was dreased in a very OQuapieuoHa uniform, and was (jrimy with dn.st and stnokei The uext. ninmiiifv a oompany of Versailles soldiere, belonging to the One Hnndred and Fifty-seoond Battallion of the lino, was hurrying aloiig tho line Nuevo den Petita Champa, under tbc gi lic lance of Pólice Agent (Jallattd, in SBRrch of ('oininmiiütK und Vetrolours, a plcasant-looking gentleman, in lli garfa of a i-uro, witli shovel lmt, weU defined tonaure, brown lut.il-, and biight Mach ■yes, sfepped nut of a ccllar-v;iy, over the oi1 vfhiöh wa tlic sigg, "Collieii, inarchand des fcabits.1 The cure tonched bis lint, smiled on tlio troops, and walfced on, gontly trimming liis nailH with i aroall pon-knife. Oalhnnl Starled; ba Bpoke a word to tho Captain commanding tho troope, thoy called a halt, and (Jalhuid sprang across tlio paveraent, and laid his hand on the oöre'i shonldcr. "llnonl Surian, I arrest you!" "My son, are you not hastyf" Baid the cure geiitly. "I am Father Thomas, on of the enrea of St Siüpioo," and he lienl his black eyês npon CJallaud wiüi a look of mild ïoproach. "Ho. lies!" shrieked a womau from across the strcet. "I watcked him'l I :aw Mm go in thero! I liavo nover lost ight of him!" And the prisoner was confronted by the iiiftiriated Mdlle. ('ytlieree. "Daughter," aid the euro, "tliis is some nnfortnnate mistake. Who is it that you tako me für?'1 "It makea no differencc?" apreameJ the woinan, "blue cyes, blnck eyes, gray oyes, it makea no diflereucü ! ' I know you for ltaoul Surian, eonvict, robber, I murderer and Comnmnard!" "I will settlo tliis," said the infantry Captain. He took a file of men and ran into Collaert's dingy shop. Prescntly he returned. One of lus men bon: n blóody j and smoke-atained uniform, and two more had the trombliug Collaert, an old, dirty, snuily Hollander, by the throat. "Attcntion!" said the Captain to Collaert. " If you do not aiiHwer truly and LLvuiuij jii ouiuL uu niiou iijiu iieie. Who did this uniform bolong to - who leftit withyou?" "That man - tlicro I" "Who is thatman?" "Kaoul öurinn 1" " How oamo ho to go to you?" "Ho has boon in tho babit. I bave kept his clothes and bis - disguises - for five years ! Oh, pray, do not Snoot me!" "Enougb I Surian, stop out ! Lieu, tenant, detail ton men I Corporal, bimi his hands I" Surian thrust bis foot bohind Qailand'a heel, knookod tho Captain down with a blow of his fist, thrust his elbow into tho Corporal' riba, and darted off, oacaping into Collacrt's cellar with surprising agility and amid a volloy of musketry. He was iiiKtuntly puxsued by half tho company, who rushed into tho cellar and presently wcre heard bonnding up sta. Tho Iiouho WOB a tall ono, but soou shouts carne from the roof, and those on tlio streai had havdly timo to look up, when there carne two shots in quick succossion, and a dark l)ody, roBfed up like a bal], rushod down througb the air and crashcd upon flie pavomeut witli a dull, sickeiiing sound. ÏTdlle. Cytheree fainted. Gallaud stopped quickly to the still quivering mass and tornea it over. It wils llu body of Eaoul Siuian, crushed almost into a jelly. "My God ! wied Gallaud, " ono sye j is black still, but tho other is blue !" "It must have broke in tho jfall!" cried tho ahivering Colhwrt. "I will show you where h; kept them, Mi Gallaud, if you will go witli me. " The troops ïnarched on. A noighbor kindly took Mdllo. Cytheree into hor house. Tho remains of Surian were oarriod Bway, and Galland accompanied Collacrt. Ony tlie blood still remained upon the sidowalk. After all, Burian'n. so(■l■(t was vcry (simplo, like most of the inventions of genius. Ho had au assortmeiit of very thin gliiss eyes, witli perfectly transparent pupils, and thoso he wore and changed as occasion seemed te domand. A littlo practice onabled him to do this without any inconvoiiiciirc, Uio more so that the workmanship of tho eyes was exceedingly perfect. Tho poiioe najte orders now, in case a similar clicat is suspected, to touch tho white of the oye witli a uttle vinegar or 11 oamel's hair brush, to noe if it produces suffusion.