a book of scoundrels(流浪之书)-第21章
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Scotland can furnish at her grimmes： and dourest。 Here is a specimen
will serve as well as another： three of Gilderoy's gang had been hanged
according to the sentence of a certain Lord of Session； and the Chieftain；
for his own vengeance and the intimidation of justice； resolved upon an
exemplary punishment。 He waylaid the Lord of Session； emptied his
pockets； killed his horses； broke his coach in pieces； and having bound his
lackeys； drowned them in a pond。 This was but the prelude of revenge；
for presently （and here is the touch of humour） he made the Lord of
Session ride at dead of night to the gallows； whereon the three malefactors
were hanging。 One arm of the crossbeams was still untenanted。 ‘By
my soul； mon；' cried Gilderoy to the Lord of Session； ‘as this gibbet is
built to break people's craigs； and is not uniform without another； I must
e'en hang you upon the vacant beam。' And straightway the Lord of
Session swung in the moonlight； and Gilderoy had cracked his black and
solemn joke。
This sense of fun is the single trait which relieves the colossal
turpitude of Gilderoy。 And； though even his turpitude was melodramatic
in its lack of balance； it is a unity of character which is the foundation of
his greatness。 He was no fumbler； led away from his purpose by the first
diversion； his ambition was clear before him； and he never fell below it。
He defied Scotland for fifteen years； was hanged so high that he passed
into a proverb； and though his handsome； sinister face might have made
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women his slaves； he was never betrayed by passion （or by virtue） to an
amiability。
II SIXTEEN…STRING JACK
THE ‘Green Pig' stood in the solitude of the North Road。 Its simple
front； its neatly balanced windows； curtained with white； gave it an air of
comfort and tranquillity。 The smoke which curled from its hospitable
chimney spoke of warmth and good fare。
To pass it was to spurn the last chance of a bottle for many a weary
mile； and the prudent traveller would always rest an hour by its ample
fireside； or gossip with its fantastic hostess。 Now； the hostess of the little
inn was Ellen Roach； friend and accomplice of Sixteen…String Jack； once
the most famous woman in England； and still after a weary stretch at
Botany Bay the strangest of companions； the most buxom of spinsters。
Her beauty was elusive even in her triumphant youth； and middle…age had
neither softened her traits nor refined her expression。 Her auburn hair；
once the glory of Covent Garden； was fading to a withered grey； she was
never tall enough to endure an encroaching stoutness with equanimity； her
dumpy figure made you marvel at her past success； and hardship had
furrowed her candid brow into wrinkles。 But when she opened her lips
she became instantly animated。 With a glass before her on the table； she
would prattle frankly and engagingly of the past。 Strange cities had she
seen； she had faced the dangers of an adventurous life with calmness and
good temper。 And yet Botany Bay； with its attendant horrors； was
already fading from her memory。 In imagination she was still with her
incomparable hero； and it was her solace； after fifteen years； to sing the
praise and echo the perfections of Sixteen…String Jack。
‘How well I remember；' she would murmur； as though unconscious of
her audience； ‘the unhappy day when Jack Rann was first arrested。 It
was May； and he came back travel…stained and weary in the brilliant dawn。
He had stopped a one…horse shay near the nine… mile stone on the
Hounslow Roadevery word of his confession is burnt into my brainand
had taken a watch and a handful of guineas。 I was glad enough of the
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money； for there was no penny in the house； and presently I sent the maid…
servant to make the best bargain she could with the watch。 But the silly
jade； by the saddest of mishaps； took the trinket straight to the very man
who made it； and he； suspecting a theft； had us both arrested。 Even then
Jack might have been safe； had not the devil prompted me to speak the
truth。 Dismayed by the magistrate； I owned； wretched woman that I was；
that I had received the watch from Rann； and in two hours Jack also was
under lock and key。 Yet； when we were sent for trial I made what
amends I could。 I declared on oath that I had never seen Sixteen…String
Jack in my life； his name came to my lips by accident； and； hector as they
would； the lawyers could not frighten me to an acknowledgment。
Meanwhile Jack's own behaviour was grand。 I was the proudest woman
in England as I stood by his side in the dock。 When you compared him
with Sir John Fielding； you did not doubt for an instant which was the
finer gentleman。 And what a dandy was my Jack！ Though he came
there to answer for his life； he was all ribbons and furbelows。 His irons
were tied up with the daintiest blue bows； and in the breast of his coat he
carried a bundle of flowers as large as a birch…broom。 His neck quivered
in the noose； yet he was never cowed to civility。 ‘I know no more of the
matter than you do；' he cried indignantly； ‘nor half so much neither；' and if
the magistrate had not been an ill…mannered oaf； he would not have dared
to disbelieve my true…hearted Jack。 That time we escaped with whole
skins； and off we went； after dinner； to Vauxhall； where Jack was more
noticed than the fiercest of the bloods； and where he filled the heart of
George Barrington with envy。 Nor was he idle； despite his recent escape：
he brought away two watches and three purses from the Garden； so that
our necessities were amply supplied。 Ah； I should have been happy in
those days if only Jack had been faithful。 But he had a roving eye and a
joyous temperament； and though he loved me better than any of the
baggages 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
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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
