a book of scoundrels-第20章
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aggages 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
