a book of scoundrels(流浪之书)-第22章
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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
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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 traveller
surely these were innocent pleasures； and he never meant to hurt a fellow…
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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。
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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 brain。 It
was only in my cell I realised that I had seen Jack Rann for the last time；
that his pea…green coat would prove a final and ineffaceable memory。
‘Alas！ I； who had never been married； was already a hempen widow；
but I was too hopelessly heartbroken for my lover's fate to think of my
own paltry hardship。 I never saw him again。 They told me that he
suffered at Tyburn like a man； and that he counted upon a rescue to the
very end。 They told me （still bitterer news to hear） that two days before
his death he entertained seven women at supper； and was in the wildest
humour。 This almost broke my heart； it was an infidelity committed on
the other side of the grave。 But； poor Jack； he was a good lad； and loved
me more than them all； though he never could be faithful to me。' And
thus； bidding the drawer bring fresh glasses； Ellen Roach would end her
story。 Though she had told it a hundred times； at the last words a tear
always sparkled in her eye。 She lived without friend and without lover；
faithful to the memory of Sixteen… String Jack； who for her was the only
reality in the world of shades。 Her middle…age was as distant as her
youth。 The dressmaker's in Oxford Street was as vague a dream as the
inhospitabl
