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！
… 56
A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS
Shoe Lane； persuaded an accomplice to fight the cock in Sir Thomas
Jermin's name； and laid a level hundred against his own bird。 So lofty
was Sir Thomas's repute that backers were easily found； but the dunghill
rooster instantly showed a clean pair of heels； and the cheat was justified
of his cunning。
Thus Ralph Briscoe learnt the first lessons in that art of sharping
wherein he was afterwards an adept； and when he left school his head was
packed with many a profitable device which no book learning could
impart。 His father； however； still resolute that he should join an
intelligent profession； sent him to Gray's Inn that he might study law。
Here the elegance of his handwriting gained him a rapid repute； his skill
became the envy of all the lean…souled clerks in the Inn； and he might have
died a respectable attorney had not the instinct of sport forced him from
the inkpot and parchment of his profession。 Ill could he tolerate the
monotony and restraint of this clerkly life。 In his eyes law was an
instrument； not of justice； but of jugglery。 Men were born； said his
philosophy； rather to risk their necks than ink their fingers； and if a bold
adventure puts you in a difficulty； why； then； you hire some straw…splitting
attorney to show his cunning。 Indeed； the study of law was for him； as it
was for Falstaff； an excuse for many a bout and merry…making。 He loved
his glass； and he loved his wench； and he loved a bull… baiting better than
either。 It was his boast； and Moll Cutpurse's compliment； that he never
missed a match in his life； and assuredly no man was better known in Paris
Garden than the intrepid Ralph Briscoe。
The cloistered seclusion of Gray's Inn grew daily more irksome。
There he would sit； in mute despair； drumming the table with his fingers；
and biting the quill； whose use he so bitterly contemned。 Of winter
afternoons he would stare through the leaded window…panes at the gaunt；
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