a book of scoundrels-第3部分
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Now； a wipe is the easiest booty in the world； and the Artful Dodger might grow rich without the exercise of the smallest skill。 But wipes dwindled； with dwindling sensibility； and once more the pickpocket was forced upon cleverness or extinction。
At the same time the more truculent trade of housebreaking was winning a lesser triumph of its own。 Never； save in the hands of one or two distinguished practitioners； has this clumsy； brutal pursuit taken on the refinement of an art。 Essentially modern； it has generally been pursued in the meanest spirit of gain。 Deacon Brodie clung to it as to a diversion； but he was an amateur； without a clear understanding of his craft's possibilities。 The sole monarch of housebreakers was Charles Peace。 At a single stride he surpassed his predecessors； nor has the greatest of his imitators been worthy to hand on the candle which he left at the gallows。 For the rest； there is small distinction in breaking windows； wielding crowbars； and battering the brains of defenceless old gentlemen。 And it is to such miserable tricks as this that he who two centuries since rode abroad in all the glory of the High…toby…splice descends in these days of avarice and stupidity。 The legislators who decreed that henceforth the rope should be reserved for the ultimate crime of murder were inspired with a proper sense of humour and proportion。 It would be ignoble to dignify that ugly enterprise of to…day； the cracking of suburban cribs； with the same punishment which was meted out to Claude Duval and the immortal Switcher。 Better for the churl the disgrace of Portland than the chance of heroism and respect given at the Tree！
And where are the heroes whose art was as glorious as their intrepidity？ One and all they have climbed the ascent of Tyburn。
One and all； they have leaped resplendent from the cart。 The world； which was the joyous playground of highwaymen and pickpockets； is now the Arcadia of swindlers。 The man who once went forth to meet his equal on the road； now plunders the defenceless widow or the foolish clergyman from the security of an office。 He has changed Black Bess for a brougham； his pistol for a cigar； a sleek chimney…pot sits upon the head； which once carried a jaunty hat； three…cornered； spats have replaced the tops of ancient times； and a heavy fur coat advertises at once the wealth and inaction of the modern brigand。 No longer does he roam the heaths of Hounslow or Bagshot； no longer does he track the grazier to a country fair。 Fearful of an encounter； he chooses for the fields of his enterprise the byways of the City； and the advertisement columns of the smugly Christian Press。 He steals without risking his skin or losing his respectability。 The suburb； wherein he brings up a blameless； flat…footed family； regards him as its most renowned benefactor。 He is generally a pillar （or a buttress） of the Church； and oftentimes a mayor； with his ill…gotten wealth he promotes charities； and endows schools； his portrait is painted by a second…rate Academician； and hangs； until disaster overtakes him； in the town…hall of his adopted borough。
How much worse is he than the High…toby…cracks of old！ They were as brave as lions； he is a very louse for timidity。 His conduct is meaner than the conduct of the most ruffianly burglar that ever worked a centre…bit。 Of art he has not the remotest inkling： though his greed is bounded by the Bank of England； he understands not the elegancies of life； he cares not how he plumps his purse； so long as it be full； and if he were capable of conceiving a grand effect； he would willingly surrender it for a pocketed half…crown。 This side the Channel； in brief； romance and the picturesque are dead； and in France； the last refuge of crime； there are already signs of decay。 The AbbRosslot was his nameshone forth a pure creator： he owed his prowess to the example of none。 But in Paris crime is too often passionel； and a crime passionel is a crime with a purpose； which； like the novel with a purpose； is conceived by a dullard； and carried out for the gratification of the middle…class。
To whitewash the scoundrel is to put upon him the heaviest dishonour： a dishonour comparable only to the monstrously illogical treatment of the condemned。 When once a hero has forfeited his right to comfort and freedom； when he is deemed no longer fit to live upon earth； the Prison Chaplain； encouraging him to a final act of hypocrisy； gives him a free pass （so to say） into another and more exclusive world。 So； too； the moralist would test the thief by his own narrow standard； forgetting that all professions are not restrained by the same code。 The road has its ordinances as well as the lecture…room； and if the thief is commonly a bad moralist； it is certain that no moralist was ever a great thief。 Why then detract from a man's legitimate glory？ Is it not wiser to respect ‘that deep intuition of oneness；' which Coleridge says is ‘at the bottom of our faults as well as our virtues？' To recognise that a fault in an honest man is a virtue in a scoundrel？ After all； he is eminent who； in obedience to his talent； does prodigies of valour unrivalled by his fellows。 And none has so many opportunities of various eminence as the scoundrel。
The qualities which may profitably be applied to a cross life are uncommon and innumerable。 It is not given to all men to be light…brained； light…limbed； light…fingered。 A courage which shall face an enemy under the starlight； or beneath the shadow of a wall； which shall track its prey to a well…defended lair； is far rarer than a law…abiding cowardice。 The recklessness that risks all for a present advantage is called genius； if a victorious general urge it to success； nor can you deny to the intrepid Highwayman； whose sudden resolution triumphs at an instant of peril； the possession of an admirable gift。 But all heroes have not proved themselves excellent at all points。 This one has been distinguished for the courtly manner of his attack； that other for a prescience which discovers booty behind a coach… door or within the pocket of a buttoned coat。 If Cartouche was a master of strategy； Barrington was unmatched in another branch； and each may claim the credit due to a peculiar eminence。 It is only thus that you may measure conflicting talents： as it were unfair to judge a poet by a brief experiment in prose； so it would be monstrous to cheapen the accomplishments of a pickpocket； because he bungled at the concealment of his gains。
A stern test of artistry is the gallows。 Perfect behaviour at an enforced and public scrutiny may properly be esteemed an effect of talentan effect which has not too often been rehearsed。 There is no reason why the Scoundrel； fairly beaten at the last point in the game； should not go to his death without swagger and without remorse。 At least he might comfort himself with such phrases as ‘a dance without the music；' and he has not often been lacking in courage。 What he has missed is dignity： his pitfalls have been unctuosity； on the one side； bravado on the other。 It was the Prison Ordinary； who first misled him into the assumption of a piety which neither preacher nor disciple understood。 It was the Prison Ordinary； who persuaded him to sign his name to a lying confession of guilt； drawn up in accordance with a foolish and inexorable tradition； and to deliver such a last dying speech as would not disappoint the mob。
The set phrases； the vain prayer offered for other sinners； the hypocritical profession of a superior righteousness； were neither noble nor sincere。 When Tom Jones （for instance） was hanged； in 1702； after a prosperous career on Hounslow Heath； his biographer declared that he behaved with more than usual ‘modesty and decency；' because he ‘delivered a pretty deal of good advice to the young men present； exhorting them to be industrious in their several callings。' Whereas his biographer should have discovered that it is not thus that your true hero bids farewell to frolic and adventure。
As little in accordance with good taste was the last appearance of the infamous Jocelin Harwood； who was swung from the cart in 1692 for murder and robbery。 He arrived at Tyburn insolently drunk。 He blustered and ranted； until the spectators hissed their disapproval； and he died vehemently shouting that he would act the same murder again in the same case。 Unworthy； also； was the last dying repartee of Samuel Shotland； a notorious bully of the Eighteenth Century。 Taking off his shoes； he hurled them into the crowd； with a smirk of delight。 ‘My father and mother often told me；' he cried； ‘that I should die with my shoes on； but you may all see that I have made them both liars。' A great man dies not with so mean a jest； and Tyburn was untouched to mirth by Shotland's facile humour。
On the other hand； there are those who have given a splendid example of a brave and dignified death。 Brodie was a sorry bungler when at work； but a perfect artist at the gallows。 The glory of his last achievement will never fade。 The muttered prayer； unblemished by hypocrisy； the jest thrown at George Smitha metaphor from the gaming…tablethe silent adjustment of the cord which was to strangle him； these last offices were performed with an unparalleled quietude and restraint。 Though he had pattered the flash to all his wretched accomplices； there was no trace of the last dying speech in his final utterances； and he set an example of a simple greatness； worthy to be followed even to the end of time。 Such is the type； but others also have given proof of a serene temper。 Tom Austin's masterpiece was in another kind； but it was none the less a masterpiece。 At the very moment that the halter was being put about his neck； he was asked by the Chaplain what he had to say before he died。 ‘Only；' says he； ‘there's a woman yonder with some curds and whey； and I wish I could have a pennyworth of them before I am hanged； because I don't know when I shall see any again。' There is a brave irrelevance in this very human desire； which is beyond praise。
Valiant also was the conduct of Roderick Audrey； who after a brief but brilliant ca
