a book of scoundrels-第26部分

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ness。　　However；　the　memory　of　gaol　forced　him　to　a　brief　interlude　of　honesty；　for　a　while　he　wore　the　pink　coat　of　Colonel　Cunningham's　postillion；　and　presently　was　promoted　to　the　independence　of　a　hackney　coach。

Thus　employed；　he　became　acquainted　with　the　famous　Cyprians　of　Covent　Garden；　who；　loving　him　for　his　handsome　face　and　sprightly　gesture；　seduced　him　to　desert　his　cab　for　an　easier　profession。　　So　long　as　the　sky　was　fair；　he　lived　under　their　amiable　protection；　but　the　summer　having　chased　the　smarter　gentry　from　town；　the　ladies　could　afford　him　no　more　than　would　purchase　a　horse　and　a　pair　of　pistols；　so　that　Harry　was　compelled　to　challenge　fortune　on　the　high　road。　　His　first　journey　was　triumphantly　successful。　　A　post…chaise　and　a　couple　of　coaches　emptied　their　wealth　into　his　hands；　and；　riding　for　London；　he　was　able　to　return　the　favours　lavished　upon　him　by　Covent　Garden。　　At　the　first　touch　of　gold　he　was　transformed　to　a　finished　blade。　　He　purchased　himself　a　silver…hilted　sword；　which　he　dangled　over　a　discreet　suit　of　black　velvet；　a　prodigious　run　of　luck　at　the　gaming…tables　kept　his　purse　well　lined；　and　he　made　so　brilliant　an　appearance　in　his　familiar　haunts　that　he　speedily　gained　the　name　of　‘Gentleman　Harry。'　　But　the　money；　lightly　won；　was　lightly　spent。　　The　tables　took　back　more　than　they　gave；　and　before　long　Simms　was　astride　his　horse　again；　flourishing　his　irons；　and　crying：　　‘Stand　and　deliver'！　upon　every　road　in　England。

Epping　Forest　was　his　general　hunting…ground；　but　his　enterprise　took　him　far　afield；　and　if　one　night　he　galloped　by　starlight　across　Bagshot　Heath；　another　he　was　holding　up　the　York　stage　with　unbridled　insolence。　　He　robbed；　he　roared；　he　blustered　with　praiseworthy　industry；　and　good　luck　coming　to　the　aid　of　caution；　he　escaped　for　a　while　the　necessary　punishment　of　his　crimes。　　It　was　on　Stockbridge　Downs　that　he　met　his　first　check。

He　had　stopped　a　chariot；　and　came　off　with　a　hatful　of　gold；　but　the　victims；　impatient　of　disaster；　raised　the　county；　and　Gentleman　Harry　was　laid　by　the　heels。　　Never　at　a　loss；　he　condescended　to　a　cringing　hypocrisy：　he　whined；　he　whimpered；　he　babbled　of　reform；　he　plied　his　prosecutors　with　letters　so　packed　with　penitence；　that　they　abandoned　their　case；　and　in　a　couple　of　days　Simms　had　eased　a　collector　at　Eversey　Bank　of　three　hundred　pounds。　　For　this　enterprise　two　others　climbed　the　gallows；　and　the　robber's　pride　in　his　capture　was　miserably　lessened　by　the　shedding　of　innocent　blood。

But　he　forgot　his　remorse　as　speedily　as　he　dissipated　his　money；　and　sentimentality　neither　damped　his　enjoyment　nor　restrained　his　energy。　　Even　his　brief　visits　to　London　were　turned　to　the　best　account；　and；　though　he　would　have　the　world　believe　him　a　mere　voluptuary；　his　eye　was　bent　sternly　upon　business。　　If　he　did　lose　his　money　in　a　gambling　hell；　he　knew　who　won　it；　and　spoke　with　his　opponent　on　the　homeward　way。　　In　his　eyes　a　fuddled　rake　was　always　fair　game；　and　the　stern　windows　of　St。　Clement's　Church　looked　down　upon　many　a　profitable　adventure。　　His　most　distinguished　journey　was　to　Ireland；　whither　he　set　forth　to　find　a　market　for　his　stolen　treasure。　　But　he　determined　that　the　road　should　bear　its　own　charges；　and　he　reached　Dublin　a　richer　man　than　he　left　London。　　In　three　months　he　was　penniless；　but　he　did　not　begin　trade　again　until　he　had　recrossed　the　Channel；　and；　having　got　to　work　near　Chester；　he　returned　to　the　Piazza　fat　with　bank…notes。

With　success　his　extravagance　increased；　and；　living　the　life　of　a　man　about　town；　he　was　soon　harassed　by　debt。　　More　than　once　he　was　lodged　in　the　Marshalsea；　and　as　his　violent　temper　resented　the　interference　of　a　dun；　he　became　notorious　for　his　assaults　upon　sheriff's　officers。　　And　thus　his　poor　skill　grew　poorer：　forgetting　his　trade；　he　expected　that　brandy　would　ease　his　embarrassment。　　At　last；　sodden　with　drink；　he　enlisted　in　the　Guards；　from　which　regiment　he　deserted；　only　to　be　pressed　aboard　a　man…of…war。　　Freed　by　a　clever　trick；　he　took　to　the　road　again；　until　a　paltry　theft　from　a　barber　transported　him　to　Maryland。　　There　he　turned　sailor；　and　his　ship；　The　Two　Sisters；　being　taken　by　a　privateer；　he　contrived　to　scramble　into　Portugal；　whence　he　made　his　way　back　to　England；　and　to　the　only　adventure　of　which　he　was　master。　　He　landed　with　no　more　money　than　the　price　of　a　pistol；　but　he　prigged　a　prancer　at　Bristol　horsefair；　and　set　out　upon　his　last　journey。　　The　tide　of　his　fortune　was　at　flood。　　He　crammed　his　pockets　with　watches；　he　was　owner　of　enough　diamonds　to　set　up　shop　in　a　fashionable　quarter；　of　guineas　he　had　as　many　as　would　support　his　magnificence　for　half　a　year；　and　at　last　he　resolved　to　quit　the　road；　and　to　live　like　the　gentleman　he　was。　　To　this　prudence　he　was　the　more　easily　persuaded；　because　not　only　were　the　thief…takers　eager　for　his　capture；　but　he　was　a　double…dyed　deserter；　whose　sole　chance　of　quietude　was　a　decent　obscurity。

His　resolution　was　taken　at　St。　Albans；　and　over　a　comfortable　dinner　he　pictured　a　serene　and　uneventful　future。　　On　the　morrow　he　would　set　forth　to　Dublin；　sell　his　handsome　stock　of　jewels；　and　forget　that　the　cart　ever　lumbered　up　Tyburn　Hill。　　So　elated　was　he　with　his　growing　virtue；　that　he　called　for　a　second　bottle；　and　as　the　port　heated　his　blood　his　fingers　tingled　for　action。　　A　third　bottle　proved　beyond　dispute　that　only　the　craven　were　idle；　‘and　why；'　he　exclaimed；　generous　with　wine；　‘should　the　most　industrious　ruffler　of　England　condescend　to　inaction？'　　Instantly　he　summoned　the　ostler；　screaming　for　his　horse；　and　before　Redburn　he　had　emptied　four　pockets；　and　had　exchanged　his　own　tired　jade　for　a　fresh　and　willing　beast。　　Still　exultant　in　his　contempt　of　cowardice；　he　faced　the　Warrington　stage；　and　made　off　with　his　plunder　at　a　drunken　gallop。　　Arrived　at　Dunstable；　he　was　so　befogged　with　liquor　and　pride；　that　he　entered　the　‘Bull　Inn；'　the　goal　of　the　very　coach　he　had　just　encountered。　　He　had　scarce　called　for　a　quartern　of　brandy　when　the　robbed　passengers　thronged　into　the　kitchen；　and　the　fright　gave　him　enough　sobriety　to　leave　his　glass　untasted；　and　stagger　to　his　horse。　　In　a　wild　fury　of　arrogance　and　terror；　of　conflicting　vice　and　virtue；　he　pressed　on　to　Hockcliffe；　where　he　took　refuge　from　the　rain；　and　presently；　fuddled　with　more　brandy；　he　fell　asleep　over　the　kitchen　fire。

By　this　time　the　hue　and　cry　was　raised；　and　as　the　hero　lay　helpless　in　the　corner　three　troopers　burst　into　the　inn；　levelled　their　pistols　at　his　head；　and　threatened　death　if　he　put　his　hand　to　his　pocket。　　Half　asleep；　and　wholly　drunk；　he　made　not　he　smallest　show　of　resistance；　he　surrendered　all　his　money；　watches；　and　diamonds；　save　a　little　that　was　sewn　into　his　neckcloth；　and　sulkily　crawled　up　to　his　bed…chamber。　　Thither　the　troopers　followed　him；　and　having　restored　some　nine　pounds　at　his　urgent　demand；　they　watched　his　heavy　slumbers。　　For　all　his　brandy　Simms　slept　but　uneasily；　and　awoke　in　the　night　sick　with　the　remorse　which　is　bred　of　ruined　plans　and　a　splitting　head。　　He　got　up　wearily；　and　sat　over　the　fire　‘a　good　deal　chagrined；'　to　quote　his　own　simple　phrase；　at　his　miserable　capture。　　Escape　seemed　hopeless　indeed；　there　crouched　the　vigilant　troopers；　scowling　on　their　prey。　　A　thousand　plans　chased　each　other　through　the　hero's　fuddled　brain；　and　at　last　he　resolved　to　tempt　the　cupidity　of　his　guardians；　and　to　make　himself　master　of　their　fire…arms。　　There　were　still　left　him　a　couple　of　seals；　one　gold；　the　other　silver；　and　watching　his　opportunity；　Simms　flung　them　with　a　flourish　in　the　fire。　　It　fell　out　as　he　expected；　the　hungry　troopers　made　a　dash　to　save　the　trinkets；　the　prisoner　seized　a　brace　of　pistols　and　leapt　to　the　door。　　But；　alas；　the　pistols　missed　fire；　Harry　was　immediately　overpowered；　and　on　the　morrow　was　carried；　sick　and　sorry；　before　the　Justice。　　From　Dunstable　he　travelled　his　last　journey　to　Newgate；　and；　being　condemned　at　the　Old　Bailey；　he　was　hanged　till　he　was　dead；　and　his　body　thereafter　was　carried　for　dissection　to　a　surgeon's　in　that　same　Covent　Garden　where　he　first　deserted　his　hackney　cab　for　the　pleasures　of　the　town。

‘Gentleman　Harry'　was　neither　a　brilliant　thief　nor　a　courteous　highwayman。　　There　was　no　touch　of　the　grand　manner　even　in　his　prettiest　achievement。　　His　predecessors　had　made　a　pistol　and　a　vizard　an　overwhelming　terror；　and　he　did　but　profit　by　their　tradition　when　he　bade　the　cowed　traveller　stand　and　deliver。　　His　profession；　as　he　practised　it；　neither　demanded　skill　nor　incurred　danger。　　Though　he　threatened　death　at　every　encounter；　you　never　hear　that　he　pulled　a　trigger　throughout　his　career。　　If　his　opponent　jeered　and　rode　off；　he　rode　off　with　a　whole　skin　and　a　full　pocket。　　Once　even　this　renowned　adventurer　accepted　the　cut　of　a　riding…whip　across　his　face；　nor　made　any　attempt　to　avenge　the　insult。　　But　his　manifold　shortcomings　were　no　hindrance　to　his　success。　　Wherever　he　went；　between　London　and　York；　he　stopped　coaches　and　levied　his　tax。　　A　threatening　voice；　an　arched　eyebrow；　an　arrogant　method　of　fingering　an　unloaded　pistol；　conspired　with　the　craven；　indolent　habit　of　the　time　to　make　his　every　journey　a　procession　of　triumph。　　He　was　capable　of　performing　all　such　feats　as　the　age　required　of　him。　　But　you　miss　the　spirit；　the　bravery；　the　urbanity；　and　the　wit；　which　made　the　adventurer　of　the　seventeenth　century　a　figure　of　romance。

One　point　only　of　the　great　tradition　did　Harry　Simms　remember。　　He　was　never　unwilling　to　restore　a　trinket　made　precious　by　sentiment。　　Once　when　he　took　a　gold　ring　from　a　gentleman's　finger　a　gentlewoman　burst　into　tears；　exclaiming；　‘There　goes　your　father's　ring。'　　Whereupon　Simms　threw　all　his　booty　into　a　hat；　saying；　‘For　God's　sake；　take　that　or　anything　else　you　please。'　　In　all　other　respects　he　was　a　bully；　with　the　hesitancy　of　a　coward；　rather　than　the　proper　rival　of　Hind　or　Duval。　　Apart　from　the　exercise　of　his　trade；　he　was　a　very　Mohock　for　brutality。　　He　would　ill…treat　his　victims；　whenever　their　drunkenness　permitted　the　freedom；　and　he　had　no　better　gifts　for　the　wom