a book of scoundrels(流浪之书)-第15章
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and the plundered。 Among his earliest exploits was the recovery of the
Countess of Gdn's chair； impudently carried off when her ladyship had
but just alighted； and the courage wherewith he brought to justice the
murderers of one Mrs。 Knap； who had been slain for some trifling booty；
established his reputation as upon a rock。 He at once advertised himself
in the public prints as Thief…Catcher General of Great Britain and Ireland；
and proceeded to send to the gallows every scoundrel that dared dispute
his position。
His opportunities of gain were infinite。 Even if he did not organise
the robbery which his cunning was presently to discover； he had spies in
every hole and corner to set him on the felon's track。 Nor did he leave a
single enterprise to chance： ‘He divided the city and suburbs into wards
or divisions； and appointed the persons who were to attend each ward； and
kept them strictly to their duty。' If a subordinate dared to disobey or to
shrink from murder； Jonathan hanged him at the next assize； and happily
for him he had not a single confederate whose neck he might not put in the
halter when he chose。 Thus he preserved the union and the fidelity of his
gang； punishing by judicial murder the smallest insubordination； the
faintest suspicion of rivalry。 Even when he had shut his victim up in
Newgate； he did not leave him so long as there was a chance of blackmail。
He would make the most generous offers of evidence and defence to every
thief that had a stiver left him。 But whether or not he kept his bargain
that depended upon policy and inclination。 On one occasion； when he
had brought a friend to the Old Bailey； and relented at the last moment； he
kept the prosecutor drunk from the noble motive of self…interest； until the
case was over。 And so esteemed was he of the officers of the law that
even this interference did but procure a reprimand。
His meanest action marked him out from his fellows； but it was not
until he habitually pillaged the treasures he afterwards restored to their
grateful owners for a handsome consideration； that his art reached the
highest point of excellence。 The event was managed by him with
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amazing adroitness from beginning to end。
It was he who discovered the wealth and habit of the victim； it was he
who posted the thief and seized the plunder； giving a paltry commission to
his hirelings for the trouble； it was he who kept whatever valuables were
lost in the transaction； and as he was the servant of the Court； discovery or
inconvenience was impossible。 Surely the Machiavel of Thieves is
justified of his title。 He was known to all the rich and titled folk in town；
and if he was generally able to give them back their stolen valuables at
something more than double their value； he treated his clients with a most
proper insolence。 When Lady Mn was unlucky enough to lose a silver
buckle at Windsor； she asked Wild to recover it； and offered the hero
twenty pounds for his trouble。 ‘Zounds； Madam；' says he； ‘you offer
nothing。 It cost the gentleman who took it forty pounds for his coach；
equipage； and other expenses to Windsor。' His impudence increased with
success； and in the geniality of his cups he was wont to boast his amazing
rogueries： ‘hinting not without vanity at the poor Understandings of the
Greatest Part of Mankind； and his own Superior Cunning。'
In fifteen years he claimed 10；000 for his dividend of recovered
plunderings； and who shall estimate the moneys which flowed to his
treasury from blackmail and the robberies of his gang？ So brisk became
his trade in jewels and the precious metals that he opened relations with
Holland； and was master of a fleet。 His splendour increased with wealth：
he carried a silver… mounted sword； and a footman tramped at his heels。
‘His table was very splendid；' says a biographer： ‘he seldom dining under
five Dishes； the Reversions whereof were generally charitably bestow'd on
the Commonside felons。' At his second marriage with Mrs。 Mary Dn；
the hempen widow of Scull Dn； his humour was most happily expressed：
he distributed white ribbons among the turnkeys； he gave the Ordinary
gloves and favours； he sent the prisoners of Newgate several ankers of
brandy for punch。 ‘Twas a fitting complaisance； since his fortune was
drawn from Newgate； and since he was destined himself； a few years later；
to drink punch‘a liquor nowhere spoken against in the Scriptures'with
the same Ordinary whom he thus magnificently decorated。 Endowed
with considerable courage； for a while he had the prudence to save his skin；
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and despite his bravado he was known on occasion to yield a plundered
treasure to an accomplice who set a pistol to his head。 But it is certain
that the accomplice died at Tyburn for his pains； and on equal terms
Jonathan was resolute with the best。 On the trail he was savage as a wild
beast。 When he arrested James Wright for a robbery committed upon the
persons of the Earl of Bln and the Lord Bruce； he held on to the
victim's chin by his teethan exploit which reminds you of the illustrious
Tiger Roche。
Even in his lifetime he was generously styled the Great。 The scourge
of London； he betrayed and destroyed every man that ever dared to live
upon terms of friendship with him。 It was Jonathan that made Blueskin a
thief； and Jonathan screened his creature from justice only so long as
clemency seemed profitable。 At the first hint of disobedience Blueskin
was committed to Newgate。 When he had stood his trial； and was being
taken to the Condemned Hole； he beckoned to Wild as though to a
conference； and cut his throat with a penknife。 The assembled rogues
and turnkeys thought their Jonathan dead at last； and rejoiced exceedingly
therein。 Straightway the poet of Newgate's Garland leaped into verse：
Then hopeless of life； He drew his penknife；
And made a sad widow of Jonathan's wife。 But forty pounds paid
her； her grief shall appease； And every man round me may rob； if he
please。
But Jonathan recovered； and Molly； his wife； was destined a second
time to win the conspicuous honour that belongs to a hempen widow。
As his career drew to its appointed close； Fortune withheld her smiles。
‘People got so peery；' complained the great man； ‘that ingenious men were
put to dreadful shifts。' And then； highest tribute to his greatness； an Act
of Parliament was passed which made it a capital offence ‘for a prig to
steal with the hands of other people'； and in the increase of public
vigilance his undoing became certain。 On the 2nd of January； 1725； a
day not easy to forget； a creature of Wild's spoke with fifty yards of lace；
worth 40； at his Captain's bidding； and Wild； having otherwise
disposed of the plunder； was charged on the 10th of March that he ‘did
feloniously receive of Katharine Stetham ten guineas on account and
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under colour of helping the said Katharine Stetham to the said lace again；
and did not then； nor any time since； discover or apprehend； or cause to be
apprehended and brought to Justice； the persons that committed the said
felony。' Thus runs the indictment； and； to the inexpressible relief of
lesser men； Jonathan Wild was condemned to the gallows。
Thereupon he had serious thoughts of ‘putting his house in order'； with
an ironical smile he demanded an explanation of the text： ‘Cursed is
every one that hangeth on a tree'； but； presently reflecting that ‘his Time
was but short in this World； he improved it to the best advantage in Eating；
Drinking； Swearing； Cursing； and talking to his Visitants。' For all his
bragging； d
