COLLIN (Jacques), born in 1779.  Reared by the Fathers of the Oratory.  He went as far as rhetoric, at school, and was then put in a bank by his aunt, Jacqueline Collin.  Accused, however, of a crime probably committed by Franchessini, he fled the country.  Later he was sent to the galleys where he remained from 1810 to 1815, when he escaped and came to Paris, stopping under the name of Vautrin at the Vauquer pension.  There he knew Rastignac, then a young man, became interested in him, and tried to bring about his marriage with Victorine Taillefer, for whom he procured a rich dowry by causing her brother to be slain in a duel with Franchessini.  Bibi-Lupin, chief of secret police, arrested him in 1819 and returned him to the bagne, whence he escaped again in 1820, reappearing in Paris as Carlos Herrera, honorary canon of the Chapter of Toledo.  At this time he rescued Lucien de Rubempre from suicide, and took charge of the young poet.  Accused, with the latter, of having murdered Esther Gobseck, who in truth was poisoned, Jacques Collin was acquitted of this charge, and ended by becoming chief of secret police under the name of Saint-Esteve, in 1830.  He held this position till 1845.  He finally became wealthy, having an income of twelve thousand francs, three hundred thousand francs inherited from Lucien de Rubempre, and the profits of a green-leather manufactory at Gentilly. [Father Goriot.  Lost Illusions.  A Distinguished Provincial at Paris.  Scenes from a Courtesan’s Life.  The Member for Arcis.] In addition to the pseudonym of M. Jules, under which he was known by Catherine Goussard, Jacques Collin also took for a time the English name of William Barker, creditor for Georges d’Estourny.  Under this name he hoodwinked the cunning Cerizet, inducing that “man of business” to endorse some notes for him. [Scenes from a Courtesan’s Life.] He was also nick-named “Trompe-la-Mort.”

COLLIN, (Jacqueline), aunt of Jacques Collin, whom she had reared; born at Java.  In her youth she was Marat’s mistress, and afterwards had relations with the chemist, Duvignon, who was condemned to death for counterfeiting in 1799.  During this intimacy she attained a dangerous knowledge of toxicology.  From 1800 to 1805 she was a clothing dealer; and from 1806 to 1808 she spent two years in prison for having influenced minors.  From 1824 to 1830 Mlle. Collin exerted a strong influence over Jacques, alias Vautrin, toward his life of adventure without the pale of the law.  Her strong point was disguises.  In 1839 she ran a matrimonial bureau on rue de Provence, under the name of Mme. de Saint-Esteve.  She often borrowed the name of her friend Mme. Nourrisson, who, during the time of Louis Philippe, made a pretence of business more or less dubious on rue Neuve-Saint-Marc.  She had some dealings with Victorin Hulot, at whose instance she brought about the overthrow of Mme. Marneffe, mistress, and afterwards wife, of Crevel.  Under the name of Asie, Jacqueline Collin made an excellent cook for Esther Gobseck, whom she was ordered by Vautrin to watch. [Scenes from a Courtesan’s Life.  Cousin Betty.  The Unconscious Humorists.]