a book of scoundrels-第16部分

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the　house；　and　presently　I　sent　the　maid…servant　to　make　the　best　bargain　she　could　with　the　watch。　　But　the　silly　jade；　by　the　saddest　of　mishaps；　took　the　trinket　straight　to　the　very　man　who　made　it；　and　he；　suspecting　a　theft；　had　us　both　arrested。　　Even　then　Jack　might　have　been　safe；　had　not　the　devil　prompted　me　to　speak　the　truth。　　Dismayed　by　the　magistrate；　I　owned；　wretched　woman　that　I　was；　that　I　had　received　the　watch　from　Rann；　and　in　two　hours　Jack　also　was　under　lock　and　key。　　Yet；　when　we　were　sent　for　trial　I　made　what　amends　I　could。　　I　declared　on　oath　that　I　had　never　seen　Sixteen…String　Jack　in　my　life；　his　name　came　to　my　lips　by　accident；　and；　hector　as　they　would；　the　lawyers　could　not　frighten　me　to　an　acknowledgment。　　Meanwhile　Jack's　own　behaviour　was　grand。　　I　was　the　proudest　woman　in　England　as　I　stood　by　his　side　in　the　dock。　　When　you　compared　him　with　Sir　John　Fielding；　you　did　not　doubt　for　an　instant　which　was　the　finer　gentleman。　　And　what　a　dandy　was　my　Jack！　　Though　he　came　there　to　answer　for　his　life；　he　was　all　ribbons　and　furbelows。　　His　irons　were　tied　up　with　the　daintiest　blue　bows；　and　in　the　breast　of　his　coat　he　carried　a　bundle　of　flowers　as　large　as　a　birch…broom。　　His　neck　quivered　in　the　noose；　yet　he　was　never　cowed　to　civility。　　‘I　know　no　more　of　the　matter　than　you　do；'　he　cried　indignantly；　‘nor　half　so　much　neither；'　and　if　the　magistrate　had　not　been　an　ill…mannered　oaf；　he　would　not　have　dared　to　disbelieve　my　true…hearted　Jack。　　That　time　we　escaped　with　whole　skins；　and　off　we　went；　after　dinner；　to　Vauxhall；　where　Jack　was　more　noticed　than　the　fiercest　of　the　bloods；　and　where　he　filled　the　heart　of　George　Barrington　with　envy。　　Nor　was　he　idle；　despite　his　recent　escape：　he　brought　away　two　watches　and　three　purses　from　the　Garden；　so　that　our　necessities　were　amply　supplied。　　Ah；　I　should　have　been　happy　in　those　days　if　only　Jack　had　been　faithful。　　But　he　had　a　roving　eye　and　a　joyous　temperament；　and　though　he　loved　me　better　than　any　of　the　baggages　to　whom　he　paid　court；　he　would　not　visit　me　so　often　as　he　should。　　Why；　once　he　was　hustled　off　to　Bow　Street　because　the　watch　caught　him　climbing　in　at　Doll　Frampton's　window。　　And　she；　the　shameless　minx；　got　him　off　by　declaring　in　open　court　that　she　would　be　proud　to　receive　him　whenever　he　would　deign　to　ring　at　her　bell。　　That　is　the　penalty　of　loving　a　great　man：　you　must　needs　share　his　affection　with　a　set　of　unworthy　wenches。　　Yet　Jack　was　always　kind　to　me；　and　I　was　the　chosen　companion　of　his　pranks。

‘Never　can　I　forget　the　splendid　figure　he　cut　that　day　at　Bagnigge　Wells。　　We　had　driven　down　in　our　coach；　and　all　the　world　marvelled　at　our　magnificence。　　Jack　was　brave　in　a　scarlet　coat；　a　tambour　waistcoat；　and　white　silk　stockings。　　From　the　knees　of　his　breeches　streamed　the　strings　（eight　at　each）；　whence　he　got　his　name；　and　as　he　plucked　off　his　lace…hat　the　dinner…table　rose　at　him。　　That　was　a　moment　worth　living　for；　and　when；　after　his　first　bottle；　Jack　rattled　the　glasses；　and　declared　himself　a　highwayman；　the　whole　company　shuddered。　　‘‘But；　my　friends；''　quoth　he；　‘‘to…day　I　am　making　holiday；　so　that　you　have　naught　to　fear。''　　When　the　wine　's　in；　the　wit　's　out；　and　Jack　could　never　stay　his　hand　from　the　bottle。　　The　more　he　drank；　the　more　he　bragged；　until；　thoroughly　fuddled；　he　lost　a　ring　from　his　finger；　and　charged　the　miscreants　in　the　room　with　stealing　it。　　‘‘However；''　hiccupped　he；　‘‘'tis　a　mere　nothing；　worth　a　paltry　hundred　poundsless　than　a　lazy　evening's　work。　　So　I'll　let　the　trifling　theft　pass。''　　But　the　cowards　were　not　content　with　Jack's　generosity；　and　seizing　upon　him；　they　thrust　him　neck　and　crop　through　the　window。　　They　were　seventeen　to　one；　the　craven…hearted　loons；　and　I　could　but　leave　the　marks　of　my　nails　on　the　cheek　of　the　foremost；　and　follow　my　hero　into　the　yard；　where　we　took　coach；　and　drove　sulkily　back　to　Covent　Garden。

‘And　yet　he　was　not　always　in　a　mad　humour；　in　fact；　Sixteen…　String　Jack；　for　all　his　gaiety；　was　a　proud；　melancholy　man。　　The　shadow　of　the　tree　was　always　upon　him；　and　he　would　make　me　miserable　by　talking　of　his　certain　doom。　　‘‘I　have　a　hundred　pounds　in　my　pocket；''　he　would　say；　‘‘I　shall　spend　that；　and　then　I　shan't　last　long。''　　And　though　I　never　thought　him　serious；　his　prophecy　came　true　enough。　　Only　a　few　months　before　the　end　we　had　visited　Tyburn　together。　　With　his　usual　carelessness；　he　passed　the　line　of　constables　who　were　on　guard。

‘‘It　is　very　proper；''　said　he；　in　his　jauntiest　tone；　‘‘that　I　should　be　a　spectator　on　this　melancholy　occasion。''　　And　though　none　of　the　dullards　took　his　jest；　they　instantly　made　way　for　him。　　For　my　Jack　was　always　a　gentleman；　though　he　was　bred　to　the　stable；　and　his　bitterest　enemy　could　not　have　denied　that　he　was　handsome。　　His　open　countenance　was　as　honest　as　the　day；　and　the　brown　curls　over　his　forehead　were　more　elegant　than　the　smartest　wig。　　Wherever　he　went　the　world　did　him　honour；　and　many　a　time　my　vanity　was　sorely　wounded。　　I　was　a　pretty　girl；　mind　you；　though　my　travels　have　not　improved　my　beauty；　and　I　had　many　admirers　before　ever　I　picked　up　Jack　Rann　at　a　masquerade。　　Why；　there　was　a　Templar；　with　two　thousand　a　year；　who　gave　me　a　carriage　and　servants　while　I　still　lived　at　the　dressmaker's　in　Oxford　Street；　and　I　was　not　out　of　my　teens　when　the　old　Jew　in　St。　Mary　Axe　took　me　into　keeping。　　But　when　Jack　was　by；　I　had　no　chance　of　admiration。　　All　the　eyes　were　glued　upon　him；　and　his　poor　doxy　had　to　be　content　with　a　furtive　look　thrown　over　a　stranger's　shoulder。　　At　Barnet　races；　the　year　before　they　sent　me　across　the　sea；　we　were　followed　by　a　crowd　the　livelong　day；　and　truly　Jack；　in　his　blue　satin　waistcoat　laced　with　silver；　might　have　been　a　peer。　　At　any　rate；　he　had　not　his　equal　on　the　course；　and　it　is　small　wonder　that　never　for　a　moment　were　we　left　to　ourselves。

‘But　happiness　does　not　last　for　ever；　only　too　often　we　were　gravelled　for　lack　of　money；　and　Jack；　finding　his　purse　empty；　could　do　naught　else　than　hire　a　hackney　and　take　to　the　road　again；　while　I　used　to　lie　awake　listening　to　the　watchman's　raucous　voice；　and　praying　God　to　send　back　my　warrior　rich　and　scatheless。　　So　times　grew　more　and　more　difficult。　　Jack　would　stay　a　whole　night　upon　the　heath；　and　come　home　with　an　empty　pocket　or　a　beggarly　half　crown。　　And　there　was　nothing；　after　a　shabby　coat　that　he　hated　half　so　much　as　a　sheriff's　officer。　　‘‘Learn　a　lesson　in　politeness；''　he　said　to　one　of　the　wretches　who　dragged　him　off　to　the　Marshalsea。　　‘‘When　Sir　John　Fielding's　people　come　after　me　they　use　me　genteelly；　they　only　hold　up　a　finger；　beckon　me；　and　I　follow　as　quietly　as　a　lamb。　　But　you　bluster　and　insult；　as　though　you　had　never　dealings　with　gentlemen。''　　Poor　Jack；　he　was　of　a　proud　stomach；　and　could　not　abide　interference；　yet　they　would　never　let　him　go　free。　　And　he　would　have　been　so　happy　had　he　been　allowed　his　own　way。　　To　pull　out　a　rusty　pistol　now　and　again；　and　to　take　a　purse　from　a　travellersurely　these　were　innocent　pleasures；　and　he　never　meant　to　hurt　a　fellow…creature。　　But　for　all　his　kindness　of　heart；　for　all　his　love　of　splendour　and　fine　clothes；　they　took　him　at　last。

‘And　this　time；　too；　it　was　a　watch　which　was　our　ruin。　　How　often　did　I　warn　him：　　‘‘Jack；''　I　would　say；　‘‘take　all　the　money　you　can。　　Guineas　tell　no　tale。　　But　leave　the　watches　in　their　owners'　fobs。''　　Alas！　he　did　not　heed　my　words；　and　the　last　man　he　ever　stopped　on　the　road　was　that　pompous　rascal；　Dr。　Bell；　then　chaplain　to　the　Princess　Amelia。　　‘‘Give　me　your　money；''　screamed　Jack；　‘‘and　take　no　notice　or　I'll　blow　your　brains　out。''　　And　the　doctor　gave　him　all　that　he　had；　the　mean…　spirited　devil…dodger；　and　it　was　no　more　than　eighteenpence。　　Now　what　should　a　man　of　courage　do　with　eighteenpence？　　So　poor　Jack　was　forced　to　seize　the　parson's　watch　and　trinkets　as　well；　and　thus　it　was　that　a　second　time　we　faced　the　Blind　Beak。

When　Jack　brought　home　the　watch；　I　was　seized　with　a　shuddering　presentiment；　and　I　would　have　given　the　world　to　throw　it　out　of　the　window。　　But　I　could　not　bear　to　see　him　pinched　with　hunger；　and　he　had　already　tossed　the　doctor's　eighteenpence　to　a　beggar　woman。　　So　I　trudged　off　to　the　pawnbroker's；　to　get　what　price　I　could；　and　I　bethought　me　that　none　would　know　me　for　what　I　was　so　far　away　as　Oxford　Street。　　But　the　monster　behind　the　counter　had　a　quick　suspicion；　though　I　swear　I　looked　as　innocent　as　a　babe；　he　discovered　the　owner　of　the　watch；　and　infamously　followed　me　to　my　house。

‘The　next　day　we　were　both　arrested；　and　once　more　we　stood　in　the　hot；　stifling　Court　of　the　Old　Bailey。　　Jack　was　radiant　as　ever；　the　one　spot　of　colour　and　gaiety　in　that　close；　sodden　atmosphere。　　When　we　were　taken　from　Bow　Street　a　thousand　people　formed　our　guard　of　honour；　and　for　a　month　we　were　the　twin　wonders　of　London。　　The　lightest　word；　the　fleetest　smile　of　the　renowned　highwayman；　threw　the　world　into　a　fit　of　excitement；　and　a　glimpse　of　Rann　was　worth　a　king's　ransom。　　I　could　look　upon　him　all　day　for　nothing！　　And　I　knew　what　a　fever　of　fear　throbbed　behind　his　mask　of　happy　contempt。　　Yet　bravely　he　played　the　part　unto　the　very　end。　　If　the　toasts　of　London　were　determined　to　gaze　at　him；　he　assured　them　they　should　have　a　proper　salve　for　their　eyes。　　So　he　dressed　himself　as　a　light…hearted　sportsman。　　His　coat　and　waistcoat　were　of　pea…　green　cloth；　his　buckskin　breeches　were　spotlessly　new；　and　all　tricked　out　with　the　famous　strings；　his　hat　was　bound　round　with　silver　cords；　and　even　the　ushers　of　the　Court　were　touched　to　courtesy。　　He　would　whisper　to　me；　as　we　stood　in　the　dock；　‘‘Cheer　up；　my　girl。　　I　have　ordered　the　best　supper　that　Covent　Garden　can　provide；　and　we　will　make　merry　to…night　when　this　foolish　old　judge　has　done　his　duty。''　　The　supper　was　never　eaten。　　Through　the　weary　afternoon　we　waited　for　acquittal。　　The　autumn　sun　sank　in　hopeless　gloom。　　The　wretched　lamps　twinkled　through　the　jaded　air　of　the　court…house。　　In　an　hour　I　lived　a　thousand　years　of　misery；　and　when　the　sentence　was　read；　the　words　carried　no　sense　to　my　withered　brai