按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
leafless trees； on whose summits swayed the cawing rooks； until servitude
seemed intolerable； and he prayed for the voice of the bearward that
summoned him to Southwark。 And when the chained bear； the familiar
monkey on his back； followed the shrill bagpipe along the curious street；
Briscoe felt that blood； not ink； coursed in his veins； forgot the tiresome
impediment of the law； and joined the throng； hungry for this sport of
56
… 57
A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS
kings。 Nor was he the patron of an enterprise wherein he dared take no
part。 He was as bold and venturesome as the bravest ruffler that ever
backed a dog at a baiting。 When the bull； cruelly secured behind； met the
onslaught of his opponents； throwing them off； now this side； now that；
with his horns； Briscoe； lost in excitement； would leap into the ring that
not a point of the combat should escape him。
So it was that he won the friendship of his illustrious benefactress；
Moll Cutpurse。 For； one day； when he had ventured too near the
maddened bull； the brute made a heave at his breeches； which instantly
gave way； and in another moment he would have been gored to death； had
not Moll seized him by the collar and slung him out of the ring。 Thus did
his courage ever contradict his appearance； and at the dangerous game of
whipping the blinded bear he had no rival； either for bravery or adroitness。
He would rush in with uplifted whip until the breath of the infuriated beast
was hot upon his cheek； let his angry lash curl for an instant across the
bear's flank； and then； for all his halting foot； leap back into safety with a
smiling pride in his own nimbleness。
His acquaintance with Moll Cutpurse； casually begun at a bull… baiting；
speedily ripened； for her into friendship； for him into love。 In this； the
solitary romance of his life； Ralph Briscoe overtopped even his own
achievements of courage。 The Roaring Girl was no more young； and
years had not refined her character unto gentleness。 It was still her habit
to appear publicly in jerkin and galligaskins； to smoke tobacco in
contempt of her sex； and to fight her enemies with a very fury of insolence。
In stature she exceeded the limping clerk by a head； and she could pick
him up with one hand； like a kitten。 Yet he loved her； not for any grace
of person； nor beauty of feature； nor even because her temperament was
undaunted as his own。 He loved her for that wisest of reasons； which is
no reason at all； because he loved her。 In his eyes she was the Queen； not
of Misrule； but of Hearts。 Had a throne been his； she should have shared
it； and he wooed her with a shy intensity； which ennobled him； even in her
austere regard。 Alas！ she was unable to return his passion； and she
lamented her own obduracy with characteristic humour。 She made no
attempt to conceal her admiration。 ‘A notable and famous person；' she
57
… 58
A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS
called him； confessing that； ‘he was right for her tooth； and made to her
mind in every part of him。' He had been bred up in the same exercise of
bull…baiting； which was her own delight； she had always praised his
towardliness； and prophesied his preferment。 But when he paid her court
she was obliged to decline the honour； while she esteemed the
compliment。
In truth； she was completely insensible to passion； or； as she exclaimed
in a phrase of brilliant independence； ‘I should have hired him to my
embraces。'
The sole possibility that remained was a Platonic friendship； and
Briscoe accepted the situation in excellent humour。 ‘Ever since he came
to know himself；' again it is Moll that speaks； ‘he always deported himself
to me with an abundance of regard； calling me his Aunt。' And his aunt
she remained unto the end； bound to him in a proper and natural alliance。
Different as they were in aspect； they were strangely alike in taste and
disposition。 Nor was the Paris Garden their only meeting…ground。
His sorry sojourn in Gray's Inn had thrown him on the side of the law…
breaker； and he had acquired a strange cunning in the difficult art of
evading justice。 Instantly Moll recognised his practical value； and；
exerting all her talent for intrigue； presently secured for him the Clerkship
of Newgate。 Here at last he found scope not only for his learning； but for
that spirit of adventure that breathed within him。 His meagre
acquaintance with letters placed him on a pinnacle high above his
colleagues。 Now and then a prisoner proved his equal in wit； but as he
was manifestly superior in intelligence to the Governor； the Ordinary； and
all the warders； he speedily seized and hereafter retained the real
sovereignty of Newgate。
His early progress was barred by envy and contempt。 Why； asked the
men in possession； should this shrivelled stranger filch our privileges？
And Briscoe met their malice with an easy smile； knowing that at all
points he was more than their match。 His alliance with Moll stood him in
good stead； and in a few months the twain were the supreme arbiters of
English justice。 Should a highwayman seek to save his neck； he must
first pay a fat indemnity to the Newgate Clerk； but； since Moll was the
58
… 59
A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS
appointed banker of the whole family； she was quick to sanction whatever
price her accomplice suggested。 And Briscoe had a hundred other tricks
whereby he increased his riches and repute。 There was no debtor came to
Newgate whom the Clerk would not aid； if he believed the kindness
profitable。 Suppose his inquiries gave an assurance of his victim's
recovery； he would house him comfortably； feed him at his own table； lend
him money； and even condescend to win back the generous loan by the
dice…box。
His civility gave him a general popularity among the prisoners； and his
appearance in the Yard was a signal for a subdued hilarity。 He drank and
gambled with the roysterers； he babbled a cheap philosophy with the
erudite； and he sold the necks of all to the highest bidder。 Though now
and again he was convicted of mercy or revenge； he commonly held
himself aloof from human passions； and pursued the one sane end of life
in an easy security。 The hostility of his colleagues irked him but little。
A few tags of Latin； the friendship of Moll； and a casual threat of exposure
frightened the Governor into acquiescence； but the Ordinary was more
difficult of conciliation。 The Clerk had not been long in Newgate before
he saw that between the reverend gentleman and himself there could be
naught save war。 Hitherto the Ordinary had reserved to his own profit
the right of intrigue； he it was who had received the hard…scraped money
of the sorrowing relatives； and untied the noose when it seemed good to
him。 Briscoe insisted upon a division of labour。 ‘It is your business；' he
said； ‘to save the scoundrels in the other world。 Leave to me the profit of
their salvation in this。' And the Clerk triumphed after his wont： freedom
jingled in his pocket； he doled out comfort； even life； to the oppressed； and
he extorted a comfortable fortune in return for privileges which were
never in his gift。
Without the walls of Newgate the house of his frequentation was the
‘Dog Tavern。' Thither he would wander every afternoon to meet his
clients and to extort blood…money。 In this haunt of criminals and
pettifoggers no man was better received than the Newgate Clerk； and
while he assumed a manner of generous cordiality； it was a strange sight to
see him wince when some sturdy ruffian slapped him too strenuously upon
59
… 60
A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS
the back。 He had a joke and a chuckle for all； and his merry quips； dry as
they were； were joyously quoted to all new…comers。 His legal ingenuity
appeared miraculous； and it was confidently asserted in the Coffee House
that he could turn black to white with so persuasive an argument that there
was no Judge on the Bench to confute him。 But he was not omnipotent；
and his zeal encountered many a serious check。 At times he failed to
save the necks even of his intimates； since； when once a ruffian was
notorious； Moll and the Clerk fought vainly for his release。 Thus it was
that Cheney； the famous wrestler； whom Ralph had often backed against
all comers； died at Tyburn。 He had been taken by the troopers red…
handed upon the highway。 Seized after a desperate resistance； he was
wounded wellnigh to death； and Briscoe quoted a dozen precedents to
prove that he was unfit to be tried or hanged。 Argument failing； the
munificent Clerk offered fifty pounds for the