a book of scoundrels-第10节

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his　club　for　the　distaff　of　Omphale；　so　would　she　put　off　the　wimple　and　bodice　of　her　sex　for　jerkin　and　galligaskins。　　If　she　could　not　allure　manhood；　then　would　she　brave　it。　　And　though　she　might　not　cross　swords　with　her　country's　foes；　at　least　she　might　levy　tribute　upon　the　unjustly　rich；　and　confront　an　enemy　wherever　there　was　a　full　pocket。

Her　entrance　into　a　gang　of　thieves　was　beset　by　no　difficulty。　　The　Bear　Garden；　always　her　favourite　resort；　had　made　her　acquainted　with　all　the　divers　and　rumpads　of　the　town。　　The　time；　moreover；　was　favourable　to　enterprise；　and　once　again　was　genius　born　into　a　golden　age。　　The　cutting　of　purses　was　an　art　brought　to　perfection；　and　already　the　more　elegant　practice　of　picking　pockets　was　understood。　　The　transition　gave　scope　for　endless　ingenuity；　and　Moll　was　not　slow　in　mastering　the　theory　of　either　craft。　　It　was　a　changing　fashion　of　dress；　as　I　have　said；　which　forced　a　new　tactic　upon　the　thief；　the　pocket　was　invented　because　the　hanging　purse　was　too　easy　a　prey　for　the　thievish　scissors。　　And　no　sooner　did　the　world　conceal　its　wealth　in　pockets　than　the　cly…filer　was　born　to　extract　the　booty　with　his　long；　nimble　fingers。　　The　trick　was　managed　with　an　admirable　forethought；　which　has　been　a　constant　example　to　after　ages。　　The　file　was　always　accompanied　by　a　bull：；　whose　duty　it　was　to　jostle　and　distract　the　victim　while　his　pockets　were　rifled。　　The　bung；　or　what　not；　was　rapidly　passed　on　to　the　attendant　rub；　who　scurried　off　before　the　cry　of　STOP　THIEF！　　could　be　raised。

Thus　was　the　craft　of　thieving　practised　when　Moll　was　enrolled　a　humble　member　of　the　gang。　　Yet　nature　had　not　endowed　her　with　the　qualities　which　ensure　an　active　triumph。　　‘The　best　signs　and　marks　of　a　happy；　industrious　hand；'　wrote　the　hoyden；　‘is　a　long　middle　finger；　equally　suited　with　that　they　call　the　fool's　or　first　finger。'　　Now；　though　she　was　never　a　clumsy　jade；　the　practice　of　sword…play　and　quarterstaff　had　not　refined　the　industry　of　her　hands；　which　were　the　rather　framed　for　strength　than　for　delicacy。　　So　that　though　she　served　a　willing　apprenticeship；　and　eagerly　shared　the　risks　of　her　chosen　trade；　the　fear　of　Newgate　and　Tyburn　weighed　heavily　upon　her　spirit；　and　she　cast　about　her　for　a　method　of　escape。　　Avoiding　the　danger　of　discovery；　she　was　loth　to　forego　her　just　profit；　and　hoped　that　intelligence　might　atone　for　her　sturdy；　inactive　fingers。　　Already　she　had　endeared　herself　to　the　gang　by　unnumbered　acts　of　kindness　and　generosity；　already　her　inflexible　justice　had　made　her　umpire　in　many　a　difficult　dispute。　　If　a　rascal　could　be　bought　off　at　the　gallows'　foot；　there　was　Moll　with　an　open　purse；　and　so　speedily　did　she　penetrate　all　the　secrets　of　thievish　policy；　that　her　counsel　and　comfort　were　soon　indispensable。

Here；　then；　was　her　opportunity。　　Always　a　diplomatist　rather　than　a　general；　she　gave　up　the　battlefield　for　the　council　chamber。　　She　planned　the　robberies　which　defter　hands　achieved；　and；　turning　herself　from　cly…filer　to　fence；　she　received　and　changed　to　money　all　the　watches　and　trinkets　stolen　by　the　gang。

Were　a　citizen　robbed　upon　the　highway；　he　straightway　betook　himself　to　Moll；　and　his　property　was　presently　returned　him　at　a　handsome　price。　　Her　house；　in　short；　became　a　brokery。　　Hither　the　blades　and　divers　brought　their　purchases；　and　sought　the　ransom；　hither　came　the　outraged　victims　to　buy　again　the　jewels　and　rings　which　thievish　fingers　had　pinched。　　With　prosperity　her　method　improved；　until　at　last　her　statesmanship　controlled　the　remotest　details　of　the　craft。　　Did　one　of　her　gang　get　to　work　overnight　and　carry　off　a　wealthy　swag；　she　had　due　intelligence　of　the　affair　betimes　next　morning；　so　that；　furnished　with　an　inventory　of　the　booty；　she　might　make　a　just　division；　or　be　prepared　for　the　advent　of　the　rightful　owner。

So　she　gained　a　complete　ascendency　over　her　fellows。　　And　when　once　her　position　was　assured；　she　came　forth　a　pitiless　autocrat。　　Henceforth　the　gang　existed　for　her　pleasure；　not　she　for　the　gang's；　and　she　was　as　urgent　to　punish　insubordination　as　is　an　empress　to　avenge　the　heinous　sin　of　treason。　　The　pickpocket　who　had　claimed　her　protection　knew　no　more　the　delight　of　freedom。　　If　he　dared　conceal　the　booty　that　was　his；　he　had　an　enemy　more　powerful　than　the　law；　and　many　a　time　did　contumacy　pay　the　last　penalty　at　the　gallows。　　But　the　faithful　also　had　their　reward；　for　Moll　never　deserted　a　comrade；　and　while　she　lived　in　perfect　safety　herself　she　knew　well　how　to　contrive　the　safety　of　others。　　Nor　was　she　content　merely　to　discharge　those　duties　of　the　fence　for　which　an　instinct　of　statecraft　designed　her。　　Her　restless　brain　seethed　with　plans　of　plunder；　and　if　her　hands　were　idle　it　was　her　direction　that　emptied　half　the　pockets　in　London。　　Having　drilled　her　army　of　divers　to　an　unparalleled　activity；　she　cast　about　for　some　fresh　method　of　warfare；　and　so　enrolled　a　regiment　of　heavers；　who　would　lurk　at　the　mercers'　doors　for　an　opportunity　to　carry　off　ledgers　and　account…books。　　The　price　of　redemption　was　fixed　by　Moll　herself；　and　until　the　mercers　were　aroused　by　frequent　losses　to　a　quicker　vigilance；　the　trade　was　profitably　secure。

Meanwhile　new　clients　were　ever　seeking　her　aid；　and；　already　empress　of　the　thieves；　she　presently　aspired　to　the　friendship　and　patronage　of　the　highwaymen。　　Though　she　did　not　dispose　of　their　booty；　she　was　appointed　their　banker；　and　vast　was　the　treasure　entrusted　to　the　coffers　of　honest　Moll。　　Now；　it　was　her　pride　to　keep　only　the　best　company；　for　she　hated　stupidity　worse　than　a　clumsy　hand；　and　they　were　men　of　wit　and　spirit　who　frequented　her　house。　　Thither　came　the　famous　Captain　Hind；　the　Regicides'　inveterate　enemy；　whose　lofty　achievements　Moll；　with　an　amiable　extravagance；　was　wont　to　claim　for　her　own。　　Thither　came　the　unamiably　notorious　Mull　Sack；　who　once　emptied　Cromwell's　pocket　on　the　Mall；　and　whose　courage　was　as　formidable　as　his　rough…edged　tongue。　　Another　favourite　was　the　ingenious　Crowder；　whose　humour　it　was　to　take　the　road　habited　like　a　bishop；　and　who　surprised　the　victims　of　his　greed　with　ghostly　counsel。　　Thus　it　was　a　merry　party　that　assembled　in　the　lady's　parlour；　loyal　to　the　memory　of　the　martyred　king；　and　quick　to　fling　back　an　offending　pleasantry。

But　the　house　in　Fleet　Street　was　a　refuge　as　well　as　a　resort；　the　sanctuary　of　a　hundred　rascals；　whose　misdeeds　were　not　too　flagrantly　discovered。　　For；　while　Moll　always　allowed　discretion　to　govern　her　conduct；　while　she　would　risk　no　present　security　for　a　vague　promise　of　advantages　to　come；　her　secret　influence　in　Newgate　made　her　more　powerful　than　the　hangman　and　the　whole　bench　of　judges。　　There　was　no　turnkey　who　was　not　her　devoted　servitor；　but　it　was　the　clerk　of　Newgate　to　whom　she　and　her　family　were　most　deeply　beholden。　　This　was　one　Ralph　Briscoe；　as　pretty　a　fellow　as　ever　deserted　the　law　for　a　bull…　baiting。　　Though　wizened　and　clerkly　in　appearance；　he　was　of　a　lofty　courage；　and　Moll　was　heard　to　declare　that　had　she　not　been　sworn　to　celibacy；　she　would　have　cast　an　eye　upon　the　faithful　Ralph；　who　was　obedient　to　her　behests　whether　at　Gaol　Delivery　or　Bear　Garden。　　For　her　he　would　pack　a　jury　or　get　a　reprieve；　for　him　she　would　bait　a　bull　with　the　fiercest　dogs　in　London。　　Why　then　should　she　fear　the　law；　when　the　clerk　of　Newgate　and　Gregory　the　Hangman　fought　upon　her　side？

For　others　the　arbiter　of　life　and　death；　she　was　only　thrice　in　an　unexampled　career　confronted　with　the　law。　　Her　first　occasion　of　arrest　was　so　paltry　that　it　brought　discredit　only　on　the　constable。　　This　jack…in…office；　a　very　Dogberry；　encountered　Moll　returning　down　Ludgate　Hill　from　some　merry…making；　a　lanthorn　carried　pompously　before　her。　　Startled　by　her　attire　he　questioned　her　closely；　and　receiving　insult　for　answer；　promptly　carried　her　to　the　Round　House。　　The　customary　garnish　made　her　free　or　the　prison；　and　next　morning　a　brief　interview　with　the　Lord　Mayor　restored　Moll　to　liberty　but　not　to　forgetfulness。

She　had　yet　to　wreak　her　vengeance　upon　the　constable　for　a　monstrous　affront；　and　hearing　presently　that　he　had　a　rich　uncle　in　Shropshire；　she　killed　the　old　gentleman　（in　imagination）　and　made　the　constable　his　heir。　　Instantly　a　retainer；　in　the　true　garb　and　accent　of　the　country；　carried　the　news　to　Dogberry；　and　sent　him　off　to　Ludlow　on　the　costliest　of　fool's　errands。　　He　purchased　a　horse　and　set　forth　joyously；　as　became　a　man　of　property；　he　limped　home；　broken　in　purse　and　spirit；　the　hapless　object　of　ridicule　and　contempt。　　Perhaps　he　guessed　the　author　of　this　sprightly　outrage；　but　Moll；　for　her　part；　was　far　too　finished　a　humorist　to　reveal　the　truth；　and　hereafter　she　was　content　to　swell　the　jesting　chorus。

Her　second　encounter　with　justice　was　no　mere　pleasantry；　and　it　was　only　her　marvellous　generalship　that　snatched　her　career　from　untimely　ruin　and　herself　from　the　clutch　of　Master　Gregory。　　Two　of　her　emissaries　had　encountered　a　farmer　in　Chancery　Lane。　　They　spoke　with　him　first　at　Smithfield；　and　knew　that　his　pocket　was　well　lined　with　bank…notes。