In a forgiving mood

A French man whose backpack was stolen in February would like his wallet back. But what he really wants is a piece of what the thieves purchased at his expense. The victim’s lawyer announced Feb. 20 the thieves had used the victim’s bank card to purchase a winning French lottery ticket worth about $524,000. Attorney Pierre Debuisson said his client would happily split the proceeds with the thieves and preserve their anonymity, too. A shop owner remembers two men using the victim’s payment card to buy the winning scratch-off ticket, saying the two men were so excited that they forgot their belongings in the shop. But, ­perhaps fearing arrest, no one has yet tried to claim the winning ticket.