a book of scoundrels(流浪之书)-第27章
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guineas jostled one another in his pockets。
Thus； in brazen magnificence； he marched down Drury Lane on a
certain Saturday night in November 1724。 Towards midnight he visited
Thomas Nicks； the butcher； and having bargained for three ribs of beef；
carried Nicks with him to a chandler's hard by； that they might ratify the
bargain with a dram。 Unhappily； a boy from the ‘Rose and Crown'
sounded the alarm； for coming into the chandler's for the empty ale…pots；
he instantly recognised the incomparable gaol…thief； and lost no time in
acquainting his master。 Now； Mr。 Bradford； of the ‘Rose and Crown；'
was a head… borough； who； with the zeal of a triumphant Dogberry；
summoned the watch； and in less than half an hour Jack Sheppard was
screaming blasphemies in a hackney…cab on his way home to Newgate。
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The Stone…Jug received him with deference and admiration。 Three
hundred pounds weight of irons were put upon him for an adornment； and
the Governor professed so keen a solicitude for his welfare that he never
left him unattended。 There was scarce a beautiful woman in London who
did not solace him with her condescension； and enrich him with her gifts。
Not only did the President of the Royal Academy deign to paint his
portrait； but （a far greater honour） Hogarth made him immortal。 Even the
King displayed a proper interest； demanding a full and precise account of
his escapes。 The hero himself was drunk with flattery； he bubbled with
ribaldry； he touched off the most valiant of his contemporaries in a
ludicrous phrase。 But his chief delight was to illustrate his prowess to his
distinguished visitors； and nothing pleased him better than to slip in and
out of his chains。
Confronted with his judge； he forthwith proposed to rid himself of his
handcuffs； and he preserved until the fatal tree an illimitable pride in his
artistry。 Nor would he believe in the possibility of death。 To the very
last he was confirmed in the hope of pardon； but； pardon failing him； his
single consolation was that his procession from Westminster to Newgate
was the largest that London had ever known； and that in the crowd a
constable broke his leg。 Even in the Condemned Hole he was
unreconciled。 If he had broken the Castle； why should he not also evade
the gallows？ Wherefore he resolved to carry a knife to Tyburn that he
might cut the rope； and so； losing himself in the crowd； ensure escape。
But the knife was discovered by his warder's vigilance； and taken from
him after a desperate struggle。 At the scaffold he behaved with admirable
gravity： confessing the wickeder of his robberies； and asking pardon for
his enormous crimes。 ‘Of two virtues；' he boasted at the self…same
moment that the cart left him dancing without the music； ‘I have ever
cherished an honest pride： never have I stooped to friendship with
Jonathan Wild； or with any of his detestable thief…takers； and； though an
undutiful son； I never damned my mother's eyes。'
Thus died Jack Sheppard； intrepid burglar and incomparable artist；
who； in his own separate ambition of prison…breaking； remains； and will
ever remain； unrivalled。 His most brilliant efforts were the result neither
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of strength nor of cunning； for so slight was he of build； so deficient in
muscle； that both Edgworth Bess and Mistress Maggot were wont to bang
him to their own mind and purpose。 And an escape so magnificently
planned； so bravely executed as was his from the Strong Room； is far
greater than a mere effect of cunning。 Those mysterious gifts which
enable mankind to batter the stone walls of a prison； or to bend the iron
bars of a cage； were pre…eminently his。 It is also certain that he could not
have employed his gifts in a more reputable profession。
II LOUIS…DOMINIQUE CARTOUCHE
LOUIS…DOMINIQUE CARTOUCHE
Of all the heroes who have waged a private and undeclared war upon
their neighbours； Louis…Dominique Cartouche was the most generously
endowed。 It was but his resolute contempt for politics； his unswerving
love of plunder for its own sake； that prevented him from seizing a throne
or questing after the empire of the world。 The modesty of his ambition
sets him below Csar； or Napoleon； but he yields to neither in the
genius of success： whatever he would attain was his on the instant； nor did
failure interrupt his career； until treachery； of which he went in perpetual
terror； involved himself and his comrades in ruin。 His talent of
generalship was unrivalled。 None of the gang was permitted the liberty
of a free…lance。 By Cartouche was the order given； and so long as the
chief was in repose； Paris might enjoy her sleep。 When it pleased him to
join battle a whistle was enough。
Now； it was revealed to his intelligence that the professional thief； who
devoted all his days and such of his nights as were spared from
depredation to wine and women； was more readily detected than the valet…
de…chambre； who did but crack a crib or cry ‘Stand and deliver！' on a
proper occasion。 Wherefore； he bade his soldiers take service in the great
houses of Paris； that； secure of suspicion； they might still be ready to obey
the call of duty。 Thus； also； they formed a reconnoitring force； whose
vigilance no prize might elude； and nowhere did Cartouche display his
genius to finer purpose than in this prudent disposition of his army。 It
remained only to efface himself； and therein he succeeded admirably by
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never sleeping two following nights in the same house： so that； when
Cartouche was the terror of Paris； when even the King trembled in his bed；
none knew his stature nor could recognise his features。 In this shifting
and impersonal vizard； he broke houses； picked pockets； robbed on the pad。
One night he would terrify the Faubourg St。 Germain； another he would
plunder the humbler suburb of St。 Antoine； but on each excursion he was
companioned by experts； and the map of Paris was rigidly apportioned
among his followers。 To each district a captain was appointed； whose
business it was to apprehend the customs of the quarter； and thus to
indicate the proper season of attack。
Ever triumphant； with yellow…boys ever jingling in his pocket；
Cartouche lived a life of luxurious merriment。 A favourite haunt was a
cabaret in the Rue Dauphine； chosen for the sanest of reasons； as his
Captain Ferrand declared； that the landlady was a femme d'esprit。 Here
he would sit with his friends and his women； and thereafter drive his
chariot across the Pont Neuf to the sunnier gaiety of the Palais…Royal。 A
finished dandy； he wore by preference a grey…white coat with silver
buttons； his breeches and stockings were on a famous occasion of black
silk； while a sword； scabbarded in satin； hung at his hip。
But if Cartouche； like many another great man； had the faculty of
enjoyment； if he loved wine and wit； and mistresses handsomely attired in
damask； he did not therefore neglect his art。 When once the gang was
perfectly ordered； murder followed robbery with so instant a frequency
that Paris was panic…stricken。 A cry of ‘Cartouche' straightway ensured
an empty street。 The King took counsel with his ministers： munificent
rewards were offered； without effect。 The thief was still at work in all
security； and it was a pretty irony which urged him to strip and kill on the
highway one of the King's own pages。 Also； he did his work with so
astonishing a silence； with so reasoned a certainty； that it seemed
impossible to take him or his minions red…handed。
Before all； he discouraged the use of firearms。 ‘A pistol；' his
philosophy urged； ‘is an excellent weapon in an e
