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Past twelve o'clock！
Even if this warning voice struck a momentary terror into their
offending souls； they were up betimes in the morning； eager to pay their
final debt。 Their journey from Newgate to Tyburn was a triumph； and
their vanity was unabashed at the droning menaces of the Ordinary。 At
one point a chorus of maidens cast wreaths upon their way； or pinned
nosegays in their coats； that they might not face the executioner unadorned。
At the Crown Tavern they quaffed their last glass of ale； and told the
landlord with many a leer and smirk that they would pay him on their way
back。 Though gravity was asked； it was not always given； but in the
Eighteenth Century courage was seldom wanting。 To the common
citizen a violent death was （and is） the worst of horrors； to the ancient
highwayman it was the odd trick lost in the game of life。 And the
highwayman endured the rope； as the practised gambler loses his estate；
without blenching。 One there was； who felt his leg tremble in his own
despite： wherefore he stamped it upon the ground so violently； that in
other circumstances he would have roared with pain； and he left the world
without a tremor。 In this spirit Cranmer burnt his recreant right hand； and
in either case the glamour of a unique occasion was a stimulus to courage。
But not even this brilliant treatment of accessories availed to save the
highway from disrepute； indeed； it had become the profitless pursuit of
braggarts and loafers； long before the abolition of the stage…coach
destroyed its opportunity。 In the meantime； however； the pickpocket was
master of his trade。 His strategy was perfect； his sleight of hand as
delicate as long； lithe fingers and nimble brains could make it。 He had
discarded for ever those clumsy instruments whose use had barred the
progress of the Primitives。 The breast…pocket behind the tightest
buttoned coat presented no difficulty to his love of research； and he would
penetrate the stoutest frieze or the lightest satin； as easily as Jack Sheppard
made a hole through Newgate。 His trick of robbery was so simple and
yet so successful； that ever since it has remained a tradition。 The
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A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS
collision； the victim's murmured apology； the hasty scuffle； the booty
handed to the aide…de…camp； who is out of sight before the hue and cry can
be raisedsuch was the policy advocated two hundred years ago； such is
the policy pursued to day by the few artists that remain。
Throughout the eighteenth century the art of cly…faking held its own；
though its reputation paled in the glamour of the highway。 It culminated
in George Barrington； whose vivid genius persuaded him to work alone
and to carry off his own booty； it still flourished （in a silver age） when the
incomparable Haggart performed his prodigies of skill； even in our prosaic
time some flashes of the ancient glory have been seen。 Now and again
circumstances have driven it into eclipse。 When the facile sentiment of
the Early Victorian Era poised the tear of sympathy upon every trembling
eyelid； the most obdurate was forced to provide himself with a silk
handkerchief of equal size and value。
Now； a wipe is the easiest booty in the world； and the Artful Dodger
might grow rich without the exercise of the smallest skill。 But wipes
dwindled； with dwindling sensibility； and once more the pickpocket was
forced upon cleverness or extinction。
At the same time the more truculent trade of housebreaking was
winning a lesser triumph of its own。 Never； save in the hands of one or
two distinguished practitioners； has this clumsy； brutal pursuit taken on the
refinement of an art。 Essentially modern； it has generally been pursued
in the meanest spirit of gain。 Deacon Brodie clung to it as to a diversion；
but he was an amateur； without a clear understanding of his craft's
possibilities。 The sole monarch of housebreakers was Charles Peace。
At a single stride he surpassed his predecessors； nor has the greatest of his
imitators been worthy to hand on the candle which he left at the gallows。
For the rest； there is small distinction in breaking windows； wielding
crowbars； and battering the brains of defenceless old gentlemen。 And it
is to such miserable tricks as this that he who two centuries since rode
abroad in all the glory of the High…toby…splice descends in these days of
avarice and stupidity。 The legislators who decreed that henceforth the
rope should be reserved for the ultimate crime of murder were inspired
with a proper sense of humour and proportion。 It would be ignoble to
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dignify that ugly enterprise of to…day； the cracking of suburban cribs； with
the same punishment which was meted out to Claude Duval and the
immortal Switcher。 Better for the churl the disgrace of Portland than the
chance of heroism and respect given at the Tree！
And where are the heroes whose art was as glorious as their intrepidity？
One and all they have climbed the ascent of Tyburn。
One and all； they have leaped resplendent from the cart。 The world；
which was the joyous playground of highwaymen and pickpockets； is now
the Arcadia of swindlers。 The man who once went forth to meet his
equal on the road； now plunders the defenceless widow or the foolish
clergyman from the security of an office。 He has changed Black Bess for
a brougham； his pistol for a cigar； a sleek chimney…pot sits upon the head；
which once carried a jaunty hat； three…cornered； spats have replaced the
tops of ancient times； and a heavy fur coat advertises at once the wealth
and inaction of the modern brigand。 No longer does he roam the heaths
of Hounslow or Bagshot； no longer does he track the grazier to a country
fair。 Fearful of an encounter； he chooses for the fields of his enterprise
the byways of the City； and the advertisement columns of the smugly
Christian Press。 He steals without risking his skin or losing his
respectability。 The suburb； wherein he brings up a blameless； flat…footed
family； regards him as its most renowned benefactor。 He is generally a
pillar （or a buttress） of the Church； and oftentimes a mayor； with his ill…
gotten wealth he promotes charities； and endows schools； his portrait is
painted by a second…rate Academician； and hangs； until disaster overtakes
him； in the town…hall of his adopted borough。
How much worse is he than the High…toby…cracks of old！ They were
as brave as lions； he is a very louse for timidity。 His conduct is meaner
than the conduct of the most ruffianly burglar that ever worked a centre…bit。
Of art he has not the remotest inkling： though his greed is bounded by the
Bank of England； he understands not the elegancies of life； he cares not
how he plumps his purse； so long as it be full； and if he were capable of
conceiving a grand effect； he would willingly surrender it for a pocketed
half…crown。 This side the Channel； in brief； romance and the picturesque
are dead； and in France； the last refuge of crime； there are already signs of
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decay。 The AbbRosslot was his nameshone forth a pure
creator： he owed his prowess to the example of none。 But in Paris crime
is too often passionel； and a crime passionel is a crime with a purpose；
which； like the novel with a purpose； is conceived by a dullard； and carried
out for the gratification of the middle…class。
To whitewash the scoundrel is to put upon him the heaviest dishonour：
a dishonour comparable only to the monstrously illogical treatment of the
condemned。 When once a hero has forfeited his right to comfort and
freedom； when he is deemed no longer fit to live upon earth； the Prison
Chaplain； encouraging him to a final act of hypocrisy； gives him a free
pass （so to say） into another and more exclusive world。 So； too； the
moralist would test the thief by his own narrow standard； forgetting that
all professions are not restrained by the same code。 The road has its
ordinances as well as the lecture…room； and if the thief is commonly a bad
moralist； it is certain that no moralist was ever a great thief。 Why then
detract from a man's legitimate glory？ Is it not wiser to respect ‘that
deep intuition of oneness；' which Coleridge says is ‘at the bottom of our
faults as well as our virtues？' To recognise that a fault in an honest man
is a virtue in a scoundrel？ After all； he is eminent who； in obedience to
his talent； does prodigies of valour unrivalled by his fellows。 And none
has so many opportunities of various eminence as the scoundrel。
The qualities which may profitably be applied to a cross life are
uncommon and innumerable。 It is not given to all men to be light…
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