a book of scoundrels(流浪之书)-第37章
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suggestion of false shame or idle regret； and a natural vanity lifts each of
them out of the pit of commonplace on to the tableland of the heroic。
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A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS
They set forth their depredation； as a victorious general might record his
triumphs； and they excel the nimblest Ordinary that ever penned a dying
speech in all the gifts of the historian。
But when you leave the study for the field； the Switcher instantly
declares his superiority。 He had the happiness to practise his craft in its
heyday； while Simms knew but the fag… end of a noble tradition。 Haggart；
moreover； was an expert； pursuing a difficult art； while Simms was a bully；
plundering his betters by bluff。 Simms boasted no quality which might
be set off against the accurate delicacy of Haggart's hand。 The
Englishman grew rich upon a rolling eye and a rusty pistol。 He put on
his ‘fiercest manner；' and believed that the world would deny him nothing。
The Scot； rejoicing in his exquisite skill； went to work without fuss or
bluster； and added the joy of artistic pride to his delight in plunder。
Though Simm's manner seems the more chivalrous； it required not one
tithe of the courage which was Haggart's necessity。 On horseback； with
the semblance of a fire…arm； a man may easily challenge a coachful of
women。 It needs a cool brain and a sound courage to empty a pocket in
the watchful presence of spies and policemen。 While Gentleman Harry
chose a lonely road； or the cover of night for his exploits； the Switcher
always worked by day； hustled by a crowd of witnesses。
Their hours of leisure furnish a yet more striking contrast。 Simms
was a polished dandy delighting in his clothes； unhappy if he were
deprived of his bottle and his game。 Haggart； on the other hand； was
before all things sealed to his profession。 He would have deserted the
gayest masquerade； had he ever strayed into so light a frivolity； for the
chance of lightening a pocket。 He tasted but few amusements without
the limits of his craft； and he preserved unto the end a touch of that dour
character which is the heritage of his race。 But； withal； he was an
amiable decent body； who would have recoiled in horror from the drunken
brutality of Gentleman Harry。 Though he bragged to George Combe of
his pitiless undoing of wenches； he never thrust a crab…stick into a
woman's eye； and he was incapable of rewarding a kindness by robbery
and neglect。 Once at Newcastlehe arrayed himself in a smart white
coat and tops； but the splendour ill became his red…headed awkwardness；
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A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS
and he would have stood aghast at the satin frocks and velvet waistcoats of
him who broke the hearts of Drury Lane。 But if he were gentler in his
life； Haggart was prepared to fight with a more reckless courage when his
trade demanded it。 It was the Gentleman's boast that he never shed the
blood of man。 When David found a turnkey between himself and
freedom； he did not hesitate to kill； though his remorse was bitter enough
when he neared the gallows。 In brief； Haggart was not only the better
craftsman； but the honester fellow； and though his hands were red with
blood； he deserved his death far less than did the more truculent； less
valiant Simms。 Each had in his brain the stuff whereof men of letters are
made： this is their parallel。 And； by way of contrast； while the Switcher
was an accomplished artist； Gentleman Harry was a roystering braggart。
121
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A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS
DEACON BRODIE AND
CHARLES PEACE
I DEACON BRODIE
AS William Brodie stood at the bar； on trial for a his life； he seemed
the gallantest gentleman in court。 Thither he had been carried in a chair；
and； still conscious of the honour paid him； he flashed a condescending
smile upon his judges。 His step was jaunty as ever； his superb attire well
became the Deacon of a Guild。 His coat was blue； his vest a very garden
of flowers； while his satin breeches and his stockings of white silk were
splendid in their simplicity。 Beneath a cocked hat his hair was fully
dressed and powdered； and even the prosecuting counsel assailed him with
the respect due to a man of fashion。 The fellow's magnificence was
thrown into relief by the squalor of his accomplice。 For George Smith
had neither the money nor the taste to disguise himself as a polished rogue；
and he huddled as far from his master as he could in the rags of his mean
estate。 Nor from this moment did Brodie ever abate one jot of his dignity。
He faced his accusers with a clear eye and a frigid amiability； he listened
to his sentence with a calm contempt； he laughed complacently at the
sorry interludes of judicial wit； and he faced the last music with a bravery
and a cynicism which bore the stamp of true greatness。
It was not until after his crime that Brodie's heroism approved itself。
And even then his was a triumph not of skill but of character。 Always a
gentleman in manner and conduct； he owed the success and the failure of
his life to this one quality。 When in flight he made for Flushing on board
the Endeavour； the other passengers； who knew not his name； straightway
christened him ‘the gentleman。' The enterprise itself would have been
impossible to one less persuasively gifted； and its proper execution is a
tribute to the lofty quality of his mind。 There was he in London； a
stranger and a fugitive； yet instead of crawling furtively into a coal…barge
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A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS
he charters a ship； captures the confidence of the captain； carries the other
passengers to Flushing； when they were bound for Leith； and compels
every one to confess his charm！ The thief； also； found him irresistible；
and while the game lasted； the flash kens of Edinburgh murmured the
Deacon's name in the hushed whisper of respect。
His fine temperament disarmed treachery。 In London he visited an
ancient doxy of his own； who； with her bully； shielded him from justice；
though betrayal would have met with an ample reward。 Smith； if he
knew himself the superior craftsman； trembled at the Deacon's nod； who
thus swaggered it through life； with none to withhold the exacted
reverence。 To this same personal compulsion he owed his worldly
advancement。 Deacon of the Wrights' Guild while still a young man； he
served upon the Council； was known for one of Edinburgh's honoured
citizens； and never went abroad unmarked by the finger of respectful envy。
He was elected in 1773 a member of the Cape Club； and met at the Isle of
Man Arms in Craig's Close the wittiest men of his time and town。
Raeburn； Runciman； and Ferguson the poet were of the society； and it was
with such as these that Brodie might have wasted his vacant hour。 Indeed；
at the very moment that he was cracking cribs and shaking the ivories； he
was a chosen leader of fashion and gaiety； and it was the elegance of the
‘gentleman' that distinguished him from his fellows。
The fop； indeed； had climbed the altitudes of life； the cracksman still
stumbled in the valleys。 If he had a ready cunning in the planning of an
enterprise； he must needs bungle at the execution； and had he not been
associated with George Smith； a king of scoundrels； there would be few
exploits to record。 And yet for the craft of housebreaker he had one solid
advantage： he knew the locks and bolts of Edinburgh as he knew his
primerfor had he not fashioned the most of them himself？ But； his
knowledge once imparted to his accomplices； he cheerfully sank to a
menial's office。 In no job did he play a principal's part： he was merely
told off by Smith or another to guard the entrance
