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and Clare Market； and breathlessly did Sheppard watch till the candle
should be extinguished and the maid silenced in sleep。 In his anxiety he
must tarrytarry； and for a weary hour he kicked his heels upon the leads；
ambition still too uncertain for quietude。 Yet he could not but catch a
solace from his splendid craft。 Said he to himself： ‘Am I not the most
accomplished slip…string the world has known？ The broken wall of every
round house in town attests my bravery。 Light…limbed though I be； have
I not forced the impregnable Castle itself？ And my enemiesare they not
to…day writhing in distress ？ The head of Blueskin； that pitiful thief；
quivers in the noose； and Jonathan Wild bleeds at the throat from the dregs
of a coward's courage。 What a triumph shall be mine when the Keeper
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finds the stronghold tenantless！'
Now； unnumbered were the affronts he had suffered from the Keeper's
impertinence； and he chuckled aloud at his own witty rejoinder。 Only
two days since the Gaoler had caught him tampering with his irons。
‘Young man；' he had said； ‘I see what you have been doing； but the affair
betwixt us stands thus： It is your business to make your escape； and mine
to take care you shall not。' Jack had answered coolly enough： ‘Then
let's both mind our own business。' And it was to some purpose that he
had minded his。 The letter to his baffled guardian； already sketched in
his mind； tickled him afresh； when suddenly he leaps to his feet and begins
to force the garret window。
The turner's maid was a heavy sleeper； and Sheppard crept from her
garret to the twisted stair in peace。 Once； on a lower floor； his heart beat
faster at the trumpetings of the turner's nose； but he knew no check until
he reached the street door。 The bolt was withdrawn in an instant； but the
lock was turned； and the key nowhere to be found。 However； though the
risk of disturbance was greater than in Newgate； the task was light enough：
and with an iron link from his fetter； and a rusty nail which had served him
bravely； the box was wrenched off in a trice； and Sheppard stood
unattended in the Old Bailey。 At first he was minded to make for his
ancient haunts； or to conceal himself within the Liberty of Westminster；
but the fetter…locks were still upon his legs； and he knew that detection
would be easy as long as he was thus embarrassed。 Wherefore； weary
and an…hungered； he turned his steps northward； and never rested until he
had gained Finchley Common。
At break of day； when the world re…awoke from the fear of thieves； he
feigned a limp at a cottage door； and borrowed a hammer to straighten a
pinching shoe。 Five minutes behind a hedge； and his anklets had dropped
from him； and； thus a free man； he took to the high road。 After all he was
persuaded to desert London and to escape a while from the sturdy embrace
of Edgworth Bess。 Moreover； if Bess herself were in the lock…up； he still
feared the interested affection of Mistress Maggot； that other doxy； whose
avarice would surely drive him upon a dangerous enterprise； so he struck
across country； and kept starvation from him by petty theft。 Up and
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down England he wandered in solitary insolence。 Once； saith rumour；
his lithe apparition startled the peace of Nottingham； once； he was
wellnigh caught begging wort at a brew…house in Thames Street。 But he
might as well have lingered in Newgate as waste his opportunity far from
the delights of Town； the old lust of life still impelled him； and a week
after the hue…and…cry was raised he crept at dead of night down Drury
Lane。 Here he found harbourage with a friendly fence； Wild's mortal
enemy； who promised him a safe conduct across the seas。 But the desire
of work proved too strong for prudence； and in a fortnight he had planned
an attack on the pawnshop of one Rawling； at the Four Balls in Drury
Lane。
Sheppard； whom no house ever built with hands was strong enough to
hold； was better skilled at breaking out than at breaking in； and it is
remarkable that his last feat in the cracking of cribs was also his greatest。
Its very conception was a masterpiece of effrontery。 Drury Lane was the
thief…catcher's chosen territory； yet it was the Four Balls that Jack
designed for attack； and watches； tie…wigs； snuff…boxes were among his
booty。 Whatever he could not crowd upon his person he presented to a
brace of women。 Tricked out in his stolen finery； he drank and
swaggered in Clare Market。 He was dressed in a superb suit of black； a
diamond fawney flashed upon his finger； his light tie…periwig was worth
no less than seven pounds； pistols； tortoise…shell snuff…boxes； and golden
guineas jostled one another in his pockets。
Thus； in brazen magnificence； he marched down Drury Lane on a
certain Saturday night in November 1724。 Towards midnight he visited
Thomas Nicks； the butcher； and having bargained for three ribs of beef；
carried Nicks with him to a chandler's hard by； that they might ratify the
bargain with a dram。 Unhappily； a boy from the ‘Rose and Crown'
sounded the alarm； for coming into the chandler's for the empty ale…pots；
he instantly recognised the incomparable gaol…thief； and lost no time in
acquainting his master。 Now； Mr。 Bradford； of the ‘Rose and Crown；'
was a head… borough； who； with the zeal of a triumphant Dogberry；
summoned the watch； and in less than half an hour Jack Sheppard was
screaming blasphemies in a hackney…cab on his way home to Newgate。
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The Stone…Jug received him with deference and admiration。 Three
hundred pounds weight of irons were put upon him for an adornment； and
the Governor professed so keen a solicitude for his welfare that he never
left him unattended。 There was scarce a beautiful woman in London who
did not solace him with her condescension； and enrich him with her gifts。
Not only did the President of the Royal Academy deign to paint his
portrait； but （a far greater honour） Hogarth made him immortal。 Even the
King displayed a proper interest； demanding a full and precise account of
his escapes。 The hero himself was drunk with flattery； he bubbled with
ribaldry； he touched off the most valiant of his contemporaries in a
ludicrous phrase。 But his chief delight was to illustrate his prowess to his
distinguished visitors； and nothing pleased him better than to slip in and
out of his chains。
Confronted with his judge； he forthwith proposed to rid himself of his
handcuffs； and he preserved until the fatal tree an illimitable pride in his
artistry。 Nor would he believe in the possibility of death。 To the very
last he was c