Vidocq’s Final Case

Originally Aired: September 29, 1952

Suspense #480, "Vidocq's Final Case," brings the legendary French detective out of retirement when Paris is plagued by a series of audacious robberies. The aging Vidocq, once the celebrated Commissioner of the Sûreté, has been reduced to touring provincial variety shows when he encounters Inspector Williams from Scotland Yard. Williams is in France to assist Commissioner Dubigny, Vidocq's successor, who stubbornly refuses to acknowledge the former detective's expertise despite being overwhelmed by the crimes. As the thefts continue and pressure mounts, Dubigny reluctantly summons Vidocq to help solve the case.

Vidocq approaches the investigation with his signature unorthodox methods, explaining that only a master criminal can catch a master criminal. He reveals his plan to infiltrate the tight-knit world of gentleman thieves by contacting an old acquaintance, the Marquis de Villiers, a thief who posed as nobility to rob the finest houses. With his reputation on the line and Dubigny's skepticism haunting him, Vidocq must prove that his skills remain sharp enough to unmask the criminals and recover the stolen treasures.