a book of scoundrels(流浪之书)-第23节
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speech； which did not shame the king of thief…takers； and whose sale
brought a comfortable profit to the widow。 Jonathan； on his side； had
shown the Ordinary not a little condescension。 It had been his whim； on
the eve of his marriage； to present Mr。 Pureney with a pair of white gloves；
which were treasured as a priceless relic for many a year。 And when he
paid his last； forced visit to Newgate； he gave the Chaplain； for a pledge of
his esteem； that famous silver staff； which he carried； as a badge of
authority from the Government； the better to keep the people in awe； and
favour the enterprises of his rogues。
Only one cloud shadowed this old and equal friendship。 Jonathan
had entertained the Ordinary with discourse so familiar； they had cracked
so many a bottle together； that when the irrevocable sentence was passed；
when he who had never shown mercy； expected none； the Great Man
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found the exhortations of the illiterate Chaplain insufficient for his high
purpose。 ‘As soon as I came into the condemned Hole；' thus he wrote； ‘I
began to think of making a preparation for my soul； and the better to bring
my stubborn heart to repentance； I desired the advice of a man of learning；
a man of sound judgment in divinity； and therefore application being made
to the Reverend Mr。 Nicholson； he very Christian…like gave me his
assistance。' Alas！ Poor Pureney！ He lacked subtlety； and he was
instantly baffled； when the Great Man bade him expound the text：
‘Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree。' The shiftiest excuse would
have brought solace to a breaking heart and conviction to a casuist brain。
Yet for once the Ordinary was at a loss； and Wild； finding him insufficient
for his purpose； turned a deaf ear to his ministrations。 Thus he was
rudely awakened from the dream of many sleepless nights。 His large
heart almost broke at the neglect。
But if his more private counsels were scorned； he still had the joy of
delivering a masterpiece from the pulpit； of using ‘all the means
imaginable to make Wild think of another world；' and of seeing him as
neatly turned off as the most exacting Ordinary could desire。 And what
inmate of Newgate ever forgot the afternoon of that glorious day （May the
24th； 1725）？ Mr。 Pureney returned to his flock； fortified with punch and
good tidings。 He pictured the scene at Tyburn with a bibulous
circumstance； which admirably became his style； rejoicing； as he has
rejoiced ever since； that； though he lost a friend； the honest rogue was
saved at last from the machinations of the thief…taker。
So he basked and smoked and drank his ale； retelling the ancient
stories； and hiccuping forth the ancient sermons。 So； in the fading
twilight of life； he smiled the smile of contentment； as became one who
had emptied more quarts； had delivered more harrowing discourses； and
had lived familiarly with more scoundrels than any devil…dodger of his
generation。
SHEPPARD AND CARTOUCHE
I JACK SHEPPARD
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JACK SHEPPARD IT was midnight when Jack Sheppard reached the
leads； wearied by his magical achievement； and still fearful of discovery。
The ‘jolly pair of handcuffs；' provided by the thoughtful Governor； lay
discarded in his distant cell； the chains which a few hours since had
grappled him to the floor encumbered the now useless staple。 No trace of
the ancient slavery disgraced him save the iron anklets which clung about
his legs； though many a broken wall and shattered lock must serve for
evidence of his prowess on the morrow。 The Stone…Jug was all be…
chipped and shattered。 From the castle he had forced his way through a
nine…foot wall into the Red Room； whose bolts； bars； and hinges he had
ruined to gain the Chapel。 The road thence to the roof and to freedom
was hindered by three stubborn iron doors； yet naught stood in the way of
Sheppard's genius； and he was sensible； at last； of the night air chill upon
his cheek。
But liberty was not yet： there was still a fall of forty feet； and he must
needs repass the wreckage of his own making to filch the blankets from
his cell。 In terror lest he should awaken the Master…Side Debtors； he
hastened back to the roof； lashed the coverlets together； and； as the city
clocks clashed twelve； he dropped noiselessly upon the leads of a turner's
house； built against the prison's outer wall。 Behind him Newgate was cut
out a black mass against the sky； at his feet glimmered the garret window
of the turner's house； and behind the winking casement he could see the
turner's servant going to bed。 Through her chamber lay the road to glory
and Clare Market； and breathlessly did Sheppard watch till the candle
should be extinguished and the maid silenced in sleep。 In his anxiety he
must tarrytarry； and for a weary hour he kicked his heels upon the leads；
ambition still too uncertain for quietude。 Yet he could not but catch a
solace from his splendid craft。 Said he to himself： ‘Am I not the most
accomplished slip…string the world has known？ The broken wall of every
round house in town attests my bravery。 Light…limbed though I be； have
I not forced the impregnable Castle itself？ And my enemiesare they not
to…day writhing in distress ？ The head of Blueskin； that pitiful thief；
quivers in the noose； and Jonathan Wild bleeds at the throat from the dregs
of a coward's courage。 What a triumph shall be mine when the Keeper
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finds the stronghold tenantless！'
Now； unnumbered were the affronts he had suffered from the Keeper's
impertinence； and he chuckled aloud at his own witty rejoinder。 Only
two days since the Gaoler had caught him tampering with his irons。
‘Young man；' he had said； ‘I see what you have been doing； but the affair
betwixt us stands thus： It is your business to make your escape； and mine
to take care you shall not。' Jack had answered coolly enough： ‘Then
let's both mind our own business。' And it was to some purpose that he
had minded his。 The letter to his baffled guardian； already sketched in
his mind； tickled him afresh； when suddenly he leaps to his feet and begins
to force the garret window。
The turner's maid was a heavy sleeper； and Sheppard crept from her
garret to the twisted stair in peace。 Once； on a lower floor； his heart beat
faster at the trumpetings of the turner's nose； but he knew no check until
he reached the street door。 The bolt was withdrawn in an instant； but the
lock was turned； and the key nowhere to be found。 However； though the
risk of disturbance was greater than in Newgate； the task was light enough：
and with an iron link from his fetter； and a rusty nail which had served him
bravely； the box was wrenched off in a trice； and Sheppard stood
unattended in the Old Bailey。 At first he was minded to make for his
ancient haunts； or to conceal himself within the Liberty of Westminster；
but the fetter…locks were still upon his legs； and he knew that detection
would be easy as long as he was thus embarrassed。 Wherefore； weary
and an…hungered； he turned his steps northward； and never rested until he
had gained Finchley Common。
At break of day； when the world re…awoke from the fear of thieves； he
feigned a limp at a cottage door； and borrowed a hammer to straighten a
pinching shoe。 Five minutes behind a hedge； and his anklets had dropped
from him； and； thus a free man； he took to the high road。 After all he was
persuaded to desert London and to escape a while from the sturdy embrace
of Edgworth Bess。 Moreover； if Bess herself were in the lock…up； he still
feared the interested affection of Mistress Maggot； that other doxy； whose
avarice would surely drive him upon a dangerous enterprise； so he struck
across country； and kept starvation from him by petty theft。 Up and
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down England he wandered in solitary insolence。 Once； saith rumour；
his lithe apparition startled the peace of Nottingham； once； he was
wellnigh caught begging wort at a brew…house in Thames Street。 But he
might as well have lingered in Newgate as waste his opportunity far from
the delights of Town； the old lust of life still impelled him； and a week
after the hue…and…cry was raised he crept at dead of night down Drury
Lane。 Here he found harbourage with a friendly fence； Wild's mortal
enemy； who promised him a safe conduct across the seas。 But the desire
of work proved too strong for prudence； and in a fortnight he had planned
an at
