a book of scoundrels-第35章

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ndignant　at　the　collapse　of　the　long…　pondered　design；　laid　the　blame　upon　his　master；　and　they　swung；　as　Brodie's　grim　spirit　of　farce　suggested；　for　four　pounds　apiece。

The　humours　of　the　situation　were　all　the　Deacon's　own。　　He　dressed　the　part　in　black；　his　respectability　grinned　behind　a　vizard；　and　all　the　while　he　trifled　nonchalantly　with　a　pistol。　　Breaking　the　silence　with　snatches　from　The　Beggar's　Opera；　he　promised　that　all　their　lead　should　turn　to　gold；　christened　the　coulter　and　the　crow　the　Great　and　Little　Samuel；　and　then　went　off　to　drink　and　dice　at　the　Vintner's。　　How　could　anger　prevail　against　this　undying　gaiety？　　And　if　Smith　were　peevish　at　failure；　he　was　presently　reconciled；　and　prepared　once　more　to　die　for　his　Deacon。

Even　after　escape；　the　amateur　is　still　apparent。　　True；　he　managed　the　trip　to　Flushing　with　his　ancient　extravagance；　true；　he　employed　all　the　juggleries　of　the　law　to　prevent　his　surrender　at　Amsterdam。　　But　he　knew　not　the　caution　of　the　born　criminal；　and　he　was　run　to　earth；　because　he　would　still　write　to　his　friends　like　a　gentleman。　　His　letters；　during　this　nightmare　of　disaster；　are　perfect　in　their　carelessness　and　good…fellowship。　　In　this　he　demands　news　of　his　children；　as　becomes　a　father　and　a　citizen；　and　furnishes　a　schedule　of　their　education；　in　that　he　is　curious　concerning　the　issue　of　a　main；　and　would　know　whether　his　black　cock　came　off　triumphant。　　Nor；　even　in　flight；　did　he　forget　his　proper　craft；　but　would　have　his　tools　sent　to　Charleston；　that　in　America　he　might　resume　the　trade　that　had　made　him　Deacon。

But　his　was　the　art　of　conduct；　not　of　guile；　and　he　deserved　capture　for　his　rare　indifference。　　Why；　then；　with　no　natural　impulsion；　did　he　risk　the　gallows？　　Why；　being　no　born　thief；　and　innocent　of　the　thief's　cunning；　did　he　associate　with　so　clever　a　scoundrel　as　George　Smith；　with　cowards　craven　as　Brown　and　Ainslie？　　The　greed　of　gold；　doubtless；　half　persuaded　him；　but　gold　was　otherwise　attainable；　and　the　motive　was　assuredly　far　more　subtle。　　Brodie；　in　fact；　was　of　a　romantic　turn。　　He　was；　so　to　say；　a　glorified　schoolboy；　surfeited　with　penny　dreadfuls。　　He　loved　above　all　things　to　patter　the　flash；　to　dream　himself　another　Macheath；　to　trick　himself　out　with　all　the　trappings　of　a　crime　he　was　unfit　to　commit。　　It　was　never　the　job　itself　that　attracted　him：　he　would　always　rather　throw　the　dice　than　force　a　neighbour's　window。　　But　he　must　needs　have　a　distraction　from　the　respectability　of　his　life。　　Everybody　was　at　his　feet；　he　was　Deacon　of　his　Guild；　at　an　age　whereat　his　fellows　were　striving　to　earn　a　reputable　living；　his　masterpieces　were　fashioned；　and　the　wrights'　trade　was　already　a　burden。　　To　go　upon　the　cross　seemed　a　dream　of　freedom；　until　he　snapped　his　fingers　at　the　world；　filled　his　mouth　with　slang；　prepared　his　alibi；　and　furnished　him　a　whole　wardrobe　of　disguises。

With　a　conscious　irony；　maybe；　he　buried　his　pistols　beneath　the　domestic　hearth；　jammed　his　dark　lantern　into　the　press；　where　he　kept　his　game…cocks；　and　determined　to　make　an　inextricable　jumble　of　his　career。　　Drink　is　sometimes　a　sufficient　reaction　against　the　orderliness　of　a　successful　life。

But　drink　and　cards　failed　with　the　Deacon；　and　at　the　Vintner's　of　his　frequentation　he　encountered　accomplices　proper　for　his　schemes。　　Never　was　so　outrageous　a　protest　offered　against　domesticity。　　Yet　Brodie's　resolution　was　romantic　after　its　fashion；　and　was　far　more　respectable　than　the　blackguardism　of　the　French　Revolution；　which　distracted　housewifely　discontent　a　year　after　the　Deacon　swung。　　Moreover；　it　gave　occasion　for　his　dandyism　and　his　love　of　display。　　If　in　one　incarnation　he　was　the　complete　gentleman；　in　another　he　dressed　the　part　of　the　perfect　scoundrel；　and　the　list　of　his　costumes　would　have　filled　one　of　his　own　ledgers。

But；　when　once　the　possibility　of　housebreaking　was　taken　from　him；　he　returned　to　his　familiar　dignity。　　Being　questioned　by　the　Procurator　Fiscal；　he　shrugged　his　shoulders；　regretting　that　other　affairs　demanded　his　attention。　　As　who　should　say：　it　is　unpardonable　to　disturb　the　meditations　of　a　gentleman。　　He　made　a　will　bequeathing　his　knowledge　of　law　to　the　magistrates　of　Edinburgh；　his　dexterity　in　cards　and　dice　to　Hamilton　the　chimney…sweeper；　and　all　his　bad　qualities　to　his　good　friends　and　old　companions；　Brown　and　Ainslie；　not　doubting；　however；　that　their　own　will　secure　them　‘a　rope　at　last。'　　In　prison　it　was　his　worst　complaint　that；　though　the　nails　of　his　toes　and　fingers　were　not　quite　so　long　as　Nebuchadnezzar's；　they　were　long　enough　for　a　mandarin；　and　much　longer　than　he　found　convenient。　　Thus　he　preserved　an　untroubled　demeanour　until　the　day　of　his　death。　　Always　polite；　and　even　joyous；　he　met　the　smallest　indulgence　with　enthusiasm。　　When　Smith　complained　that　a　respite　of　six　weeks　was　of　small　account；　Brodie　exclaimed；　‘George；　what　would　you　and　I　give　for　six　weeks　longer？　　Six　weeks　would　be　an　age　to　us。'

The　day　of　execution　was　the　day　of　his　supreme　triumph。　　As　some　men　are　artists　in　their　lives；　so　the　Deacon　was　an　artist　in　his　death。　　Nothing　became　him　so　well　as　his　manner　of　leaving　the　world。　　There　is　never　a　blot　upon　this　exquisite　performance。　　It　is　superb；　impeccable！　　Again　his　dandyism　supported　him；　and　he　played　the　part　of　a　dying　man　in　a　full　suit　of　black；　his　hair；　as　always；　dressed　and　powdered。　　The　day　before　he　had　been　jovial　and　sparkling。　　He　had　chanted　all　his　flash　songs；　and　cracked　the　jokes　of　a　man　of　fashion。　　But　he　set　out　for　the　gallows　with　a　firm　step　and　a　rigorous　demeanour。　　He　offered　a　prayer　of　his　own　composing；　and　‘O　Lord；'　he　said；　‘I　lament　that　I　know　so　little　of　Thee。'　　The　patronage　and　the　confession　are　alike　characteristic。　　As　he　drew　near　the　scaffold；　the　model　of　which　he　had　given　to　his　native　city　a　few　years　since；　he　stepped　with　an　agile　briskness；　he　examined　the　halter；　destined　for　his　neck；　with　an　impartial　curiosity。

His　last　pleasantry　was　uttered　as　he　ascended　the　table。　　‘George；'　he　muttered；　‘you　are　first　in　hand；'　and　thereafter　he　took　farewell　of　his　friends。　　Only　one　word　of　petulance　escaped　his　lips：　when　the　halters　were　found　too　short；　his　contempt　for　slovenly　workmanship　urged　him　to　protest；　and　to　demand　a　punishment　for　the　executioner。　　Again　ascending　the　table；　he　assured　himself　against　further　mishap　by　arranging　the　rope　with　his　own　hands。　　Thus　he　was　turned　off　in　a　brilliant　assembly。　　The　Provost　and　Magistrates；　in　respect　for　his　dandyism；　were　resplendent　in　their　robes　of　office；　and　though　the　crowd　of　spectators　rivalled　that　which　paid　a　tardy　honour　to　Jonathan　Wild；　no　one　was　hurt　save　the　customary　policeman。　　Such　was　the　dignified　end　of　a　‘double　life。'　　And　the　duplicity　is　the　stranger；　because　the　real　Deacon　was　not　Brodie　the　Cracksman；　but　Brodie　the　Gentleman。　　So　lightly　did　he　esteem　life　that　he　tossed　it　from　him　in　a　careless　impulse。　　So　little　did　he　fear　death　that；　‘What　is　hanging？'　he　asked。　　‘A　leap　in　the　dark。'



II　CHARLES　PEACE


CHARLES　PEACE

CHARLES　PEACE；　after　the　habit　of　his　kind；　was　born　of　scrupulously　honest　parents。　　The　son　of　a　religious　file…maker；　he　owed　to　his　father　not　only　his　singular　piety　but　his　love　of　edged　tools。　　As　he　never　encountered　an　iron　bar　whose　scission　baffled　him；　so　there　never　was　a　fire…eating　Methodist　to　whose　ministrations　he　would　not　turn　a　repentant　ear。　　After　a　handy　portico　and　a　rich　booty　he　loved　nothing　so　well　as　a　soul…　stirring　discourse。　　Not　even　his　precious　fiddle　occupied　a　larger　space　in　his　heart　than　that　devotion　which　the　ignorant　have　termed　hypocrisy。　　Wherefore　his　career　was　no　less　suitable　to　his　ambition　than　his　inglorious　end。　　For　he　lived　the　king　of　housebreakers；　and　he　died　a　warning　to　all　evildoers；　with　a　prayer　of　intercession　trembling　upon　his　lips。

The　hero's　boyhood　is　wrapped　in　obscurity。　　It　is　certain　that　no　glittering　precocity　brought　disappointment　to　his　maturer　years；　and　he　was　already　nineteen　when　he　achieved　his　first　imprisonment。　　Even　then　'twas　a　sorry　offence；　which　merited　n