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Before all； he discouraged the use of firearms。 ‘A pistol；' his
philosophy urged； ‘is an excellent weapon in an emergency； but reserve it
for emergencies。 At close quarters it is none too sure； and why give the
alarm against yourself？' Therefore he armed his band with loaded staves；
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A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS
which sent their enemies into a noiseless and fatal sleep。 Thus was he
wont to laugh at the police； deeming capture a plain impossibility。 The
traitor； in sooth； was his single； irremediable fear； and if ever suspicion
was aroused against a member of the gang； that member was put to death
with the shortest shrift。
It happened in the last year of Cartouche's supremacy that a lily…
livered comrade fell in love with a pretty dressmaker。 The indiscretion
was the less pardonable since the dressmaker had a horror of theft； and
impudently tried to turn her lover from his trade。 Cartouche； discovering
the backslider； resolved upon a public exhibition。 Before the assembled
band he charged the miscreant with treason； and； cutting his throat；
disfigured his face beyond recognition。 Thereafter he pinned to the corse
the following inscription； that others might be warned by so monstrous an
example： ‘Ci git Jean Rebti； qui a eu le traitement qu'il m