a book of scoundrels-第21节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　with　the　Noose。　　Your　‘‘end　is　to　be　burned''　（Heb。　vi。　8）；　to　be　burned；　for　the　Blood　that　is　shed　cries　aloud　for　Vengeance。'　　At　these　words；　as　Pureney　would　relate　with　a　smile　of　recollected　triumph；　Matthias　Brinsden　screamed　aloud；　and　a　shiver　ran　through　the　idle　audience　which　came　to　Newgate　on　a　Black　Sunday；　as　to　a　bull…baiting。　　Truly；　the　throng　of　thoughtless　spectators　hindered　the　proper　solace　of　the　Ordinary's　ministrations；　and　many　a　respectable　murderer　complained　of　the　intruding　mob。　　But　the　Ordinary；　otherwise　minded；　loved　nothing　so　well　as　a　packed　house；　and　though　he　would　invite　the　criminal　to　his　private　closet；　and　comfort　his　solitude　with　pious　ejaculations；　he　would　neither　shield　him　from　curiosity；　nor　tranquillise　his　path　to　the　unquenchable　fire。

Not　only　did　he　exercise　in　the　pulpit　a　poignant　and　visible　influence。　　He　boasted　the　confidence　of　many　heroes。　　His　green　old　age　cherished　no　more　famous　memory　than　the　friendship　of　Jonathan　Wild。　　He　had　known　the　Great　Man　at　his　zenith；　he　had　wrestled　with　him　in　the　hour　of　discomfiture；　he　had　preached　for　his　benefit　that　famous　sermon　on　the　text：　　‘Hide　Thy　Face　from　my　sins；　and　blot　out　all　my　Iniquities'；　he　had　witnessed　the　hero's　awful　progress　from　Newgate　to　Tyburn；　he　had　seen　him　shiver　at　the　nubbing…cheat；　he　had　composed　for　him　a　last　dying　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　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



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　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　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