RSP - Roving Stage Productions

A Foiled Suicide - Bodies in the Seine?

Skipping back a century-and-a-half from then, right around 1719, we come to a legend about Cartouche, whose hangout here was the St Nicolas Tavern, a predecessor of todays Réserve de Quasimodo. Cartouche was the ring-leader of a pickpocket gang thats documented, since he was executed in 1721.

The legend: Cartouche and gang were working the popular and crowded Pont-Neuf bridge one day in 1719, when all of a sudden a well-dressed gentleman leapt up onto the Bridges parapet.

Hang on, there, Sir, Cartouche is said to have shouted, pulling the fellow back down from a clear suicide attempt. Whats this all about? The gentlemans response: Im an honest man, indeed an honorable man, and /sniff/ I owe several people much money that Ill never be able to reimburse…The only honorable way out is to jump into the Seine. Cartouche: Now, now, you just give me a list of your creditors and the sums due.

The gentleman bandit invited said creditors to the St Nicholas Tavern at No. 4 rue de la Colombe, wined and dined them abundantly, paid off the suicide candidates debts (obtaining receipts, of course) and ordered more and more wine. Then he pulled out his pocket watch, said Sorry, gentlemen, Ive got an appointment, and disappeared.

More librations ensued among the creditors, only too pleased to celebrate their unexpected windfall. When they staggered out onto rue de la Colombe, guess who was awaiting them. Yes, indeed: Cartouches gang, who quickly divested them of the debt reimbursements.

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