a book of scoundrels-第24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！
Who knows but he might have been a respectable citizen； with never a chance for the display of his peculiar talent； had not hunger and his mistress's greed driven him upon the pad？ History records no brilliant robbery of his own planning； and so circumscribed was his imagination that he must needs pick out his own friends and benefactors for depredation。 His paltry sense of discipline permitted him to be betrayed even by his brother and pupil； and there was no cracksman of his time over whose head he held the rod of terror。 Even his hatred of Jonathan Wild was the result not of policy but of prejudice。 Cartouche； on the other hand； was always perfect when at work。 The master of himself； he was also the master of his fellows。 There was no detail of civil war that he had not made his own； and he still remains； after nearly two centuries； the greatest captain the world has seen。 Never did he permit an enterprise to fail by accident； never was he impelled by hunger or improvidence to fight a battle unprepared。 His means were always neatly fitted to their end； as is proved by the truth that； throughout his career； he was arrested but once； and then not by his own inadvertence but by the treachery of others。
Yet from the moment of arrest Jack Sheppard asserted his magnificent superiority。 If Cartouche was a sorry bungler at prison…breaking； Sheppard was unmatched in this dangerous art。 The sport of the one was to break in； of the other to break out。 True； the Briton proved his inferiority by too frequently placing himself under lock and key； but you will forgive his every weakness for the unexampled skill wherewith he extricated himself from the stubbornest dungeon。 Cartouche would scarce have given Sheppard a menial's office in his gang。 How cordially Sheppard would have despised Cartouche's solitary experiment in escape！ To be foiled by a dog and a boxmaker's daughter！ Would not that have seemed contemptible to the master breaker of those unnumbered doors and walls which separate the Castle from the freedom of Newgate roof？
Such； then； is the contrast between the heroes。 Sheppard claims our admiration for one masterpiece。 Cartouche has a sheaf of works； which shall carry him triumphantly to the remotest future。
And when you forget a while professional rivalry； and consider the delicacies of leisure； you will find the Frenchman's greatness still indisputable。 At all points he was the prettier gentleman。 Sheppard； to be sure； had a sense of finery； but he was so unused to grandeur that vulgarity always spoiled his effects。 When he hied him from the pawnshop； laden with booty； he must e'en cram what he could not wear into his pockets； and doubtless his vulgar lack of reticence made detection easier。 Cartouche； on the other hand； had an unfailing sense of proportion； and was never more dressed than became the perfect dandy。 He was elegant； he was polished； he was joyous。 He drank wine； while the other soaked himself in beer； he despised whatever was common； while his rival knew but the coarser flavours of life。
The one was distinguished by a boisterous humour； a swaggering pride in his own prowess； the wit of the other might be edged like a knife； nor would he ever appeal for a spectacle to the curiosity of the mob。 Both were men of many mistresses； but again in his conduct with women Cartouche showed an honester talent。 Sheppard was at once the prey and the whipping…block of his two infamous doxies； who agreed in deformity of feature as in contempt for their lover。 Cartouche； on the other hand； chose his cabaret for the wit of its patronne； and was always happy in the elegance and accomplishment of his companions。 One point of likeness remains。 The two heroes resembled each other not only in their profession； but in their person。 Though their trade demanded physical strength； each was small and slender of build。 ‘A little； slight…limbed lad；' says the historian of Sheppard。 ‘A thin； spare frame；' sings the poet of Cartouche。 Here； then； neither had the advantage； and if in the shades Cartouche despises the clumsiness and vulgarity of his rival； Sheppard may still remember the glory of Newgate； and twit the Frenchman with the barking of the boxmaker's dog。 But genius is the talent of the dead； and the wise； who are not partisans； will not deny to the one or to the other the possession of the rarer gift。
VAUX
VAUX
TO Haggart； who babbled on the Castle Rock of Willie Wallace and was only nineteen when he danced without the music； to Simms； alias Gentleman Harry； who showed at Tyburn how a hero could die； to George Barrington； the incomparably witty and adroitto these a full meed of honour has been paid。 Even the coarse and dastardly Freney has achieved； with Thackeray's aid （and Lever's） something of a reputation。 But James Hardy Vaux； despite his eloquent bid for fame； has not found his rhapsodist。 Yet a more consistent ruffian never pleaded for mercy。 From his early youth until in 1819 he sent forth his Memoirs to the world； he lived industriously upon the cross。 There was no racket but he worked it with energy and address。 Though he practised the more glorious crafts of pickpocket and shoplifter； he did not despise the begging…letter； and he suffered his last punishment for receiving what another's courage had conveyed。 His enterprise was not seldom rewarded with success； and for a decade of years he continued to preserve an appearance of gentility； but it is plain； even from his own narrative； that he was scarce an artist； and we shall best understand him if we recognise that he was a Philistine among thieves。 He lived in an age of pocket… picking； and skill in this branch is the true test of his time。 A contemporary of Barrington； he had before him the most brilliant of examples； which might properly have enforced the worth of a simple method。 But； though he constantly brags of his success at Drury Lane； we take not his generalities for gospel； and the one exploit whose credibility is enforced with circumstance was pitiful both in conception and performance。 A meeting of freeholders at the ‘Mermaid Tavern；' Hackney； was the occasion； and after drawing blank upon blank； Vaux succeeded at last in extracting a silver snuff…box。 Now； his clumsiness had suggested the use of the scissors； and the victim not only discovered the scission in his coat； but caught the thief with the implements of his art upon him。 By a miracle of impudence Vaux escaped conviction； but he deserved the gallows for his want of principle； and not even sympathy could have let drop a tear； had justice seized her due。 On the straight or on the cross the canons of art deserve respect； and a thief is great； not because he is a thief； but because； in filling his own pocket； he preserves from violence the legitimate traditions of his craft。
But it was in conflict with the jewellers that Vaux best proved his mettle。 It was his wont to clothe himself ‘in the most elegant attire；' and on the pretence of purchase to rifle the shops of Piccadilly。 For this offence‘pinching' the Cant Dictionary calls ithe did his longest stretch of time； and here his admirable qualities of cunning and coolness found their most generous scope。 A love of fine clothes he shared with all the best of his kind； and he visited Mr Bilgerthe jeweller who arrested himmagnificently arrayed。 He wore a black coat and waistcoat； blue pantaloons； Hessian boots； and a hat ‘in the extreme of the newest fashion。' He was also resplendent with gold watch and eye…glass。 His hair was powdered； and a fawney sparkled on his dexter fam。 The booty was enormous； and a week later he revisited the shop on another errand。 This second visit was the one flash of genius in a somewhat drab career： the jeweller was so completely dumfounded； that Vaux might have got clean away。 But though he kept discreetly out of sight for a while； at last he drifted back to his ancient boozing…ken； and was there betrayed to a notorious thief…catcher。 The inevitable sentence of death followed。 It was commuted after the fashion of the time； and Vaux； having sojourned a while at the Hulks； sought for a second time the genial airs of Botany Bay。
His vanity and his laziness were alike invincible。 He believed himself a miracle of learning as well as a perfect thief； and physical toil was the sole ‘lay' for which he professed no capacity。 For a while he corrected the press for a printer； and he roundly asserts that his knowledge of literature and of foreign tongues rendered him invaluable。 It was vanity again that induced him to assert his innocence when he was lagged for so vulgar a crime as stealing a wipe from a tradesman in Chancery Lane。 At the moment of arrest he was on his way to purchase base coin from a Whitechapel bit…faker： but； despite his nefarious errand； he is righteously wrathful at what he asserts was an unjust conviction； and henceforth he assumed the crown of martyrdom。 His first and last ambition during the intervals of freedom was gentility； and so long as he was not at work he lived the life of a respectable grocer。 Although the casual Cyprian flits across his page； he pursued the one flame of his life for the good motive； and he affects to b
