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！
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
inhospitable shore of Botany Bay。 So she waited on to a weary eld；
proud of the ‘Green Pig's' well…ordered comfort； prouder still that for two
years she shared the glory of Jack Rann； and that she did not desert her
hero； even in his punishment。
73
… 74
A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS
III A PARALLEL
THEIR closest parallel is the notoriety which dogged them from the
very day of their death。 Each； for his own exploits； was the most famous
man of his time； the favourite of broadsides； the prime hero of the ballad…
mongers。 And each owed his fame as much to good fortune as to merit；
since both were excelled in their generation by more skilful scoundrels。
If Gilderoy was unsurpassed in brutality； he fell immeasurably below Hind
in artistry and wit； nor may he be compared to such accomplished
highwaymen as Mull Sack or the Golden Farmer。 His method was not
elevated by a touch of the grand style。 He stamped all the rules of the
road beneath his contemptuous foot； and cared not what enormity he
committed in his quest for gold。 Yet； though he lived in the true
Augustan age； he yielded to no one of his rivals in glorious recognition。
So； too； Jack Rann； of the Sixteen Strings； was a near contemporary of
George Barrington。 While that nimble…fingered prig was making a
brilliant appearance at Vauxhall； and emptying the pockets of his intimates；
Rann was riding over Hounslow Heath； and flashing his pistol in the eye
of the wayfarer。 The very year in which Jack danced his last jig at
Tyburn； Barrington had astonished London by a fruitless attempt to steal
Prince Orloff's miraculous snuff… box。 And not even Ellen Roach herself
would have dared to assert that Rann was Barrington's equal in sleight of
hand。 But Rann holds his own against the best of his craft； with an
imperishable name； while a host of more distinguished cracksmen are
excluded even from the Newgate Calendar。
In truth； there is one quality which has naught to do with artistic
supremacy； and in this quality both Rann and Gilderoy were rich beyond
their fellows。 They knew （none better） how to impose upon the world。
Had their deserts been even less than they were； they would still have been
bravely notorious。 It is a common superstition that the talent for
advertisement has but a transitory effect； that time sets all men in their
proper places。
Nothing can be more false； for he who has once declared himself
among the great ones of the earth； not only holds his position while he
74
… 75
A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS
lives； but forces an unreasoning admiration upon the future。 Though he
declines from the lofty throne； whereon his own vanity and love of praise
have set him； he still stands above the modest level which contents the
genuinely great。 Why does Euripides still throw a shadow upon the
worthier poets of his time？ Because he had the faculty of displacement；
because he could compel the world to profess an interest not only in his
work but in himself。 Why is Michael Angelo a loftier figure in the
history of art than Donatello； the supreme sculptor of his time？ Because
Donatello had not the temper which would bully a hundred popes； and
extract a magnificent advertisement from each encounter。 Why does
Shelley still claim a larger share of the world's admiration than Keats； his
indubitable superior？ Because Shelley was blessed or cursed with the
trick of interesting the world by the accidents of his life。
So by a similar faculty Gilderoy and Jack Rann have kept themselves
and their achievements in the light of day。 Had they lived in the
nineteenth century they might have been the vendors of patent pills； or the
chairmen of bubble companies。 Whatever trade they had followed； their
names would have been on every hoarding； their wares would have been
puffed in every journal。 They understood the art of publicity better than
any of their contemporaries； and they are remembered not because they
were the best thieves of their time； but because they were determined to
interest the people in their misdeeds。 Gilderoy's brutality； which was
always theatrical； ensured a constant remembrance； and the lofty gallows
added to his repute； while the brilliant inspiration of the strings； which
decorated Rann's breeches； was sufficient to conquer death。 How should
a hero sink to oblivion who had chosen for himself so splendid a name as
Sixteen… String Jack？
So far； then； their achievement is parallel。 And parallel also is their
taste for melodrama。 Each employed means too great or too violent for
the end in view。 Gilderoy burnt houses and ravished women； when his
sole object was the acquisition of money。 Sixteen…String Jack terrified
Bagnigge Wells with the dreadful announcement that he was a
highwayman； when his kindly； stupid heart would have shrunk from the
shedding of a drop of blood。 So they both blustered through the world；
75
… 76
A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS
the one in deed； the other in word； and both played their parts with so little
refinement that they frightened the groundlings to a timid admiration。
Here the resemblance is at an end。 In the essentials of their trade
Gilderoy was a professional； Rann a mere amateur。 They both bullied；
but； while Sixteen…String Jack was content to shout threats； and pick up
half…a…crown； Gilderoy breathed murder； and demanded a vast ransom。
Only once in his career did the ‘disgraceful Scotsman' become gay and
debonair。 Only once did he relax the tension of his frown； and pick
pockets with the lightness and freedom of a gentleman。 It was on his