a book of scoundrels-第13部分

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a　flat；　hollow　chest；　shrunk　shanks；　modestly　retreating　from　their　snuff…coloured　hosethese　are　the　tokens　which　served　to　remind　his　friends　of　Ralph　Briscoe；　the　Clerk　of　Newgate。　　As　he　left　the　prison　in　the　grey　air　of　morning　upon　some　errand　of　mercy　or　revenge；　he　appeared　the　least　fearsome　of　mortals；　while　an　awkward　limp　upon　his　left　toe　deepened　the　impression　of　timidity。　　So　abstract　was　his　manner；　so　hesitant　his　gait；　that　he　would　hug　the　wall　as　he　went；　nervously　stroking　its　grimy　surface　with　his　long；　twittering　fingers。　　But　Ralph；　as　justice　and　the　Jug　knew　too　well；　was　neither　fool　nor　coward。　　His　character　belied　his　outward　seeming。　　A　large　soul　had　crept　into　the　case　of　his　wizened　body；　and　if　a　poltroon　among　his　ancestors　had　gifted　him　with　an　alien　type；　he　had　inherited　from　some　nameless　warrior　both　courage　and　resource。

He　was　born　in　easy　circumstances；　and　gently　nurtured　in　the　distant　village　of　Kensington。　　Though　cast　in　a　scholar's　mould；　and　very　apt　for　learning；　he　rebelled　from　the　outset　against　a　career　of　inaction。　　His　lack　of　strength　was　never　a　check　upon　his　high　stomach；　he　would　fight　with　boys　of　twice　his　size；　and　accept　the　certain　defeat　in　a　cheerful　spirit　of　dogged　pugnacity。　　Moreover；　if　his　arms　were　weak；　his　cunning　was　as　keen…edged　as　his　tongue；　and；　before　his　stricken　eye　had　paled；　he　had　commonly　executed　an　ample　vengeance　upon　his　enemy。　　Nor　was　it　industry　that　placed　him　at　the　top　of　the　class。　　A　ready　wit　made　him　master　of　the　knowledge　he　despised。

But　he　would　always　desert　his　primer　to　follow　the　hangman's　lumbering　cart　up　Tyburn　Hill；　and；　still　a　mere　imp　of　mischief；　he　would　run　the　weary　way　from　Kensington　to　Shoe　Lane　on　the　distant　chance　of　a　cock…fight。　　He　was　present；　so　he　would　relate　in　after　years；　when　Sir　Thomas　Jermin's　man　put　his　famous　trick　upon　the　pit。　　With　a　hundred　pounds　in　his　pocket　and　under　his　arm　a　dunghill　cock；　neatly　trimmed　for　the　fray；　the　ingenious　ruffian；　as　Briscoe　would　tell　you；　went　off　to　Shoe　Lane；　persuaded　an　accomplice　to　fight　the　cock　in　Sir　Thomas　Jermin's　name；　and　laid　a　level　hundred　against　his　own　bird。　　So　lofty　was　Sir　Thomas's　repute　that　backers　were　easily　found；　but　the　dunghill　rooster　instantly　showed　a　clean　pair　of　heels；　and　the　cheat　was　justified　of　his　cunning。

Thus　Ralph　Briscoe　learnt　the　first　lessons　in　that　art　of　sharping　wherein　he　was　afterwards　an　adept；　and　when　he　left　school　his　head　was　packed　with　many　a　profitable　device　which　no　book　learning　could　impart。　　His　father；　however；　still　resolute　that　he　should　join　an　intelligent　profession；　sent　him　to　Gray's　Inn　that　he　might　study　law。　　Here　the　elegance　of　his　handwriting　gained　him　a　rapid　repute；　his　skill　became　the　envy　of　all　the　lean…souled　clerks　in　the　Inn；　and　he　might　have　died　a　respectable　attorney　had　not　the　instinct　of　sport　forced　him　from　the　inkpot　and　parchment　of　his　profession。　　Ill　could　he　tolerate　the　monotony　and　restraint　of　this　clerkly　life。　　In　his　eyes　law　was　an　instrument；　not　of　justice；　but　of　jugglery。　　Men　were　born；　said　his　philosophy；　rather　to　risk　their　necks　than　ink　their　fingers；　and　if　a　bold　adventure　puts　you　in　a　difficulty；　why；　then；　you　hire　some　straw…splitting　attorney　to　show　his　cunning。　　Indeed；　the　study　of　law　was　for　him；　as　it　was　for　Falstaff；　an　excuse　for　many　a　bout　and　merry…making。　　He　loved　his　glass；　and　he　loved　his　wench；　and　he　loved　a　bull…　baiting　better　than　either。　　It　was　his　boast；　and　Moll　Cutpurse's　compliment；　that　he　never　missed　a　match　in　his　life；　and　assuredly　no　man　was　better　known　in　Paris　Garden　than　the　intrepid　Ralph　Briscoe。

The　cloistered　seclusion　of　Gray's　Inn　grew　daily　more　irksome。　　There　he　would　sit；　in　mute　despair；　drumming　the　table　with　his　fingers；　and　biting　the　quill；　whose　use　he　so　bitterly　contemned。　　Of　winter　afternoons　he　would　stare　through　the　leaded　window…panes　at　the　gaunt；　leafless　trees；　on　whose　summits　swayed　the　cawing　rooks；　until　servitude　seemed　intolerable；　and　he　prayed　for　the　voice　of　the　bearward　that　summoned　him　to　Southwark。　　And　when　the　chained　bear；　the　familiar　monkey　on　his　back；　followed　the　shrill　bagpipe　along　the　curious　street；　Briscoe　felt　that　blood；　not　ink；　coursed　in　his　veins；　forgot　the　tiresome　impediment　of　the　law；　and　joined　the　throng；　hungry　for　this　sport　of　kings。　　Nor　was　he　the　patron　of　an　enterprise　wherein　he　dared　take　no　part。　　He　was　as　bold　and　venturesome　as　the　bravest　ruffler　that　ever　backed　a　dog　at　a　baiting。　　When　the　bull；　cruelly　secured　behind；　met　the　onslaught　of　his　opponents；　throwing　them　off；　now　this　side；　now　that；　with　his　horns；　Briscoe；　lost　in　excitement；　would　leap　into　the　ring　that　not　a　point　of　the　combat　should　escape　him。

So　it　was　that　he　won　the　friendship　of　his　illustrious　benefactress；　Moll　Cutpurse。　　For；　one　day；　when　he　had　ventured　too　near　the　maddened　bull；　the　brute　made　a　heave　at　his　breeches；　which　instantly　gave　way；　and　in　another　moment　he　would　have　been　gored　to　death；　had　not　Moll　seized　him　by　the　collar　and　slung　him　out　of　the　ring。　　Thus　did　his　courage　ever　contradict　his　appearance；　and　at　the　dangerous　game　of　whipping　the　blinded　bear　he　had　no　rival；　either　for　bravery　or　adroitness。　　He　would　rush　in　with　uplifted　whip　until　the　breath　of　the　infuriated　beast　was　hot　upon　his　cheek；　let　his　angry　lash　curl　for　an　instant　across　the　bear's　flank；　and　then；　for　all　his　halting　foot；　leap　back　into　safety　with　a　smiling　pride　in　his　own　nimbleness。

His　acquaintance　with　Moll　Cutpurse；　casually　begun　at　a　bull…　baiting；　speedily　ripened；　for　her　into　friendship；　for　him　into　love。　　In　this；　the　solitary　romance　of　his　life；　Ralph　Briscoe　overtopped　even　his　own　achievements　of　courage。　　The　Roaring　Girl　was　no　more　young；　and　years　had　not　refined　her　character　unto　gentleness。　　It　was　still　her　habit　to　appear　publicly　in　jerkin　and　galligaskins；　to　smoke　tobacco　in　contempt　of　her　sex；　and　to　fight　her　enemies　with　a　very　fury　of　insolence。　　In　stature　she　exceeded　the　limping　clerk　by　a　head；　and　she　could　pick　him　up　with　one　hand；　like　a　kitten。　　Yet　he　loved　her；　not　for　any　grace　of　person；　nor　beauty　of　feature；　nor　even　because　her　temperament　was　undaunted　as　his　own。　　He　loved　her　for　that　wisest　of　reasons；　which　is　no　reason　at　all；　because　he　loved　her。　　In　his　eyes　she　was　the　Queen；　not　of　Misrule；　but　of　Hearts。　　Had　a　throne　been　his；　she　should　have　shared　it；　and　he　wooed　her　with　a　shy　intensity；　which　ennobled　him；　even　in　her　austere　regard。　　Alas！　she　was　unable　to　return　his　passion；　and　she　lamented　her　own　obduracy　with　characteristic　humour。　　She　made　no　attempt　to　conceal　her　admiration。　　‘A　notable　and　famous　person；'　she　called　him；　confessing　that；　‘he　was　right　for　her　tooth；　and　made　to　her　mind　in　every　part　of　him。'　　He　had　been　bred　up　in　the　same　exercise　of　bull…baiting；　which　was　her　own　delight；　she　had　always　praised　his　towardliness；　and　prophesied　his　preferment。　　But　when　he　paid　her　court　she　was　obliged　to　decline　the　honour；　while　she　esteemed　the　compliment。

In　truth；　she　was　completely　insensible　to　passion；　or；　as　she　exclaimed　in　a　phrase　of　brilliant　independence；　‘I　should　have　hired　him　to　my　embraces。'

The　sole　possibility　that　remained　was　a　Platonic　friendship；　and　Briscoe　accepted　the　situation　in　excellent　humour。　　‘Ever　since　he　came　to　know　himself；'　again　it　is　Moll　that　speaks；　‘he　always　deported　himself　to　me　with　an　abundance　of　regard；　calling　me　his　Aunt。'　　And　his　aunt　she　remained　unto　the　end；　bound　to　him　in　a　proper　and　natural　alliance。　　Different　as　they　were　in　aspect；　they　were　strangely　alike　in　taste　and　disposition。　　Nor　was　the　Paris　Garden　their　only　meeting…ground。

His　sorry　sojourn　in　Gray's　Inn　had　thrown　him　on　the　side　of　the　law…breaker；　and　he　had　acquired　a　strange　cunning　in　the　difficult　art　of　evading　justice。　　Instantly　Moll　recognised　his　practical　value；　and；　exerting　all　her　talent　for　intrigue；　presently　secured　for　him　the　Clerkship　of　Newgate。　　Here　at　last　he　found　scope　not　only　for　his　learning；　but　for　that　spirit　of　adventure　that　breathed　within　him。　　His　meagre　acquaintance　with　letters　placed　him　on　a　pinnacle　high　above　his　colleagues。　　Now　and　then　a　prisoner　proved　his　equal　in　wit；　but　as　he　was　manifestly　superior　in　intelligence　to　the　Governor；　the　Ordinary；　and　all　the　warders；　he　speedily　seized　and　hereafter　retained　the　real　sovereignty　of　Newgate。

His　early　progress　was　barred　by　envy　and　contempt。　　Why；　asked　the　men　in　possession；　should　this　shrivelled　stranger　filch　our　privileges？　　And　Briscoe　met　their　malice　with　an　easy　smile；　knowing　that　at　all　points　he　was　more　than　their　match。　　His　alliance　with　Moll　stood　him　in　good　stead；　and　in　a　few　months　the　twain　were　the　supreme　arbiters　of　English　justice。　　Should　a　highwayman　seek　to　save　his　neck；　he　must　first　pay　a　fat　indemnity　to　the　Newgate　Clerk；　but；　since　Moll　was　the　appointed　banker　of　the　whole　family；　she　was　quick　to　sanction　whatever　price　her　accomplice　suggested。　　And　Briscoe　had　a　hundred　other　tricks　whereby　he　increased　his　riches　and　repute。　　There　was　no　debtor　came　to　Newgate　whom　the　Clerk　would　not　aid；　if　he　believed　the　kindness　profitable。　　Suppose　his　inquiries　gave　an　assurance　of　his　victim's　recovery；　he　would　house　him　comfortably；　feed　him　at　his　own　table；　lend　him　money；　and　even　condescend　to　win　back　the　generous　loan　by　the　dice…box。

His　civility　gave　him　a　general　popularity　among　the　prisoners；　and　his　appearance　in　the　Yard　was　a　signal　for　a　subdued　hilarity。　　He　drank　and　gambled　with　the　roysterers；　he　babbled　a　cheap　philosophy　with　the　erudite；　and　he　sold　the　necks　of　all　to　the　highest　bidder。　　Though　now　and　again　he　was　convicted　of　mercy　or　revenge；　he　commonly　held　himself　aloof　from　human　passions；　and　pursued　the　one　sane　end　of　life　in　an　easy　security。　　The　hostility　of　his　colleagues　irked　him　but　little。　　A　few　tags　of　Latin；　the　friendship　of　Moll；　and　a　casual　threat　of　exposure　frightened　the　Governor　into　acquiescence；　but　the　Ordinary　was　more　difficult　of　conciliation。　　The　Clerk　had　not　been　long　in　Newgate　be