While in jail Vidocq gets a birthday cake with a file-in-it that springs him and his dense pickpocket cell mate Emile (Akim Tamiroff), whose aunt sent the cake. On their way to Paris, an artist hires them to pose for a church mural of St. George on horseback slaying the dragon, with Sanders decked out in a blond pageboy wig. After they pose they steal the horse and go to meet Emile’s criminal family, who set them up with forged papers to serve as officers in Napoleon’s army. Before leaving for Marseilles Vidocq, striking a handsome pose in uniform, makes a pass at ill-fated cabaret singer Loretta (Carole Landis) and steals the ruby garter her soon to be hubby Richet, the Paris chief of police (Gene Lockhart), gave her. Returning from two years in the service and committing many heists, the criminals rescue a pet monkey named Satan which lands them as guests at the Paris estate of the wealthy and daffy monkey owner, the marquise (Alma Kruger). Her son-in-law, Houdon De Pierremont (Alan Napier), happens to be the French police minister, who fires the befuddled Paris chief of police, Richet, when he can’t solve the jewel robbery in their house. Vidocq steps in and solves the crime, making everyone glad the jewels were returned and as a reward is appointed chief of police. Now while planning to rob the Bank of Paris Vidocq is confronted by the devout daughter of the police minister, Therese (Signe Hasso), who fell in love with the saint in the mural of St. George hanging in her church and falls in love with Vidocq because he looks just like the saint.