Break-in at the Count of Monte Cristo's mansion

[lockedin]

So, I just finished reading the Count of Monte Cristo, and being a locksport enthusiast I couldn't help but remember a lock picking scene. The thief breaks into the count's house and gets to work on the locks. It sounds like he's using try-out keys, and I think he's trying it on a lever lock since the novel takes place in 19th century France. Anyone care to opine?:

From page 276:
"The count soon heard the jingling of one of those bunches of shapless keys such as locksmiths bring when they are called in to unlock a door and which thieves have given the name of "nightingales," no doubt because of the pleasure they take in hearing their nocturnal song when they grate against the bolt of a lock"

The thief doesn't have a chance to finish as the Count confronts him in disguise.

On the topic of lock picking in classic books, the novel Moby Dick also mentions a locksmith, but nothing comes of it. Ishmael thinks he's been locked out, but really his future friend is in his room.

[raimundo]

The great train robbery written by len deighton is a classic victorian heist story written with help from the trial records of the actualy heist. Its a movie starring sean connery now.
there are specialist thieves who pick pockets, climb walls, etc and there is some of the cockney slang perhaps even that is researched to put it in the chronology.