for the term of his natural life-第42章

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This　employment　was　not　a　congenial　one；　and　John　Rex　planned　to　leave　it。　He　lived　at　home；　and　had　his　salaryabout　thirty　shillings　a　week　for　pocket　money。　　Though　he　displayed　considerable　skill　with　the　cue；　and　not　infrequently　won　considerable　sums　for　one　in　his　position；　his　expenses　averaged　more　than　his　income；　and　having　borrowed　all　he　could；　he　found　himself　again　in　difficulties。　　His　narrow　escape；　however；　had　taught　him　a　lesson；　and　he　resolved　to　confess　all　to　his　indulgent　mother；　and　be　more　economical　for　the　future。　Just　then　one　of　those　〃lucky　chances〃　which　blight　so　many　lives　occurred。　The　〃shop…walker〃　died；　and　Messrs。　Baffaty　&　Co。　　made　the　gentlemanly　Rex　act　as　his　substitute　for　a　few　days。　　Shop…walkers　have　opportunities　not　accorded　to　other　folks；　and　on　the　evening　of　the　third　day　Mr。　Rex　went　home　with　a　bundle　of　lace　in　his　pocket。　　Unfortunately；　he　owed　more　than　the　worth　of　this　petty　theft；　and　was　compelled　to　steal　again。　　This　time　he　was　detected。　　One　of　his　fellow…shopmen　caught　him　in　the　very　act　of　concealing　a　roll　of　silk；　ready　for　future　abstraction；　and；　to　his　astonishment；　cried　〃Halves！〃　Rex　pretended　to　be　virtuously　indignant；　but　soon　saw　that　such　pretence　was　useless；　his　companion　was　too　wily　to　be　fooled　with　such　affectation　of　innocence。　　〃I　saw　you　take　it；〃　said　he；　〃and　if　you　won't　share　I'll　tell　old　Baffaty。〃　This　argument　was　irresistible；　and　they　shared。　Having　become　good　friends；　the　self…made　partner　lent　Rex　a　helping　hand　in　the　disposal　of　the　booty；　and　introduced　him　to　a　purchaser。　The　purchaser　violated　all　rules　of　romance　by　beingnot　a　Jew；　but　a　very　orthodox　Christian。　　He　kept　a　second…hand　clothes　warehouse　in　the　City　Road；　and　was　supposed　to　have　branch　establishments　all　over　London。

Mr。　Blicks　purchased　the　stolen　goods　for　about　a　third　of　their　value；　and　seemed　struck　by　Mr。　Rex's　appearance。　　〃I　thort　you　was　a　swell　mobsman；〃　said　he。　　This；　from　one　so　experienced；　was　a　high　compliment。　Encouraged　by　success；　Rex　and　his　companion　took　more　articles　of　value。　John　Rex　paid　off　his　debts；　and　began　to　feel　himself　quite　a　〃gentleman〃　again。　　Just　as　Rex　had　arrived　at　this　pleasing　state　of　mind；　Baffaty　discovered　the　robbery。　　Not　having　heard　about　the　bank　business；　he　did　not　suspect　Rexhe　was　such　a　gentlemanly　young　man　but　having　had　his　eye　for　some　time　upon　Rex's　partner；　who　was　vulgar；　and　squinted；　he　sent　for　him。　　Rex's　partner　stoutly　denied　the　accusation；　and　old　Baffaty；　who　was　a　man　of　merciful　tendencies；　and　could　well　afford　to　lose　fifty　pounds；　gave　him　until　the　next　morning　to　confess；　and　state　where　the　goods　had　gone；　hinting　at　the　persuasive　powers　of　a　constable　at　the　end　of　that　time。　　The　shopman；　with　tears　in　his　eyes；　came　in　a　hurry　to　Rex；　and　informed　him　that　all　was　lost。　He　did　not　want　to　confess；　because　he　must　implicate　his　friend　Rex；　but　if　he　did　not　confess　he　would　be　given　in　charge。　Flight　was　impossible；　for　neither　had　money。　　In　this　dilemma　John　Rex　remembered　Blicks's　compliment；　and　burned　to　deserve　it。　　If　he　must　retreat；　he　would　lay　waste　the　enemy's　country。　　His　exodus　should　be　like　that　of　the　Israeliteshe　would　spoil　the　Egyptians。　　The　shop…walker　was　allowed　half　an　hour　in　the　middle　of　the　day　for　lunch。　　John　Rex　took　advantage　of　this　half…hour　to　hire　a　cab　and　drive　to　Blicks。　That　worthy　man　received　him　cordially；　for　he　saw　that　he　was　bent　upon　great　deeds。　　John　Rex　rapidly　unfolded　his　plan　of　operations。　The　warehouse　doors　were　fastened　with　a　spring。　　He　would　remain　behind　after　they　were　locked；　and　open　them　at　a　given　signal。　　A　light　cart　or　cab　could　be　stationed　in　the　lane　at　the　back；　three　men　could　fill　it　with　valuables　in　as　many　hours。　　Did　Blicks　know　of　three　such　men？　Blicks's　one　eye　glistened。　　He　thought　he　did　know。　　At　half…past　eleven　they　should　be　there。　　Was　that　all？　　No。　　Mr。　John　Rex　was　not　going　to　〃put　up〃　such　a　splendid　thing　for　nothing。　　The　booty　was　worth　at　least　？；000　if　it　was　worth　a　shillinghe　must　have　？00　cash　when　the　cart　stopped　at　Blicks's　door。　　Blicks　at　first　refused　point　blank。　Let　there　be　a　division；　but　he　would　not　buy　a　pig　in　a　poke。　Rex　was　firm；　however；　it　was　his　only　chance；　and　at　last　he　got　a　promise　of　？0。　　That　night　the　glorious　achievement　known　in　the　annals　of　Bow　Street　as　〃The　Great　Silk　Robbery〃　took　place；　and　two　days　afterwards　John　Rex　and　his　partner；　dining　comfortably　at　Birmingham；　read　an　account　of　the　transactionnot　in　the　least　like　itin　a　London　paper。

John　Rex；　who　had　now　fairly　broken　with　dull　respectability；　bid　adieu　to　his　home；　and　began　to　realize　his　mother's　wishes。　He　was；　after　his　fashion；　a　〃gentleman〃。　　As　long　as　the　？0　lasted；　he　lived　in　luxury；　and　by　the　time　it　was　spent　he　had　established　himself　in　his　profession。　　This　profession　was　a　lucrative　one。　　It　was　that　of　a　swindler。　　Gifted　with　a　handsome　person；　facile　manner；　and　ready　wit；　he　had　added　to　these　natural　advantages　some　skill　at　billiards；　some　knowledge　of　gambler's　legerdemain；　and　the　useful　consciousness　that　he　must　prey　or　be　preyed　on。　　John　Rex　was　no　common　swindler；　his　natural　as　well　as　his　acquired　abilities　saved　him　from　vulgar　errors。　He　saw　that　to　successfully　swindle　mankind；　one　must　not　aim　at　comparative；　but　superlative；　ingenuity。　　He　who　is　contented　with　being　only　cleverer　than　the　majority　must　infallibly　be　outwitted　at　last；　and　to　be　once　outwitted　isfor　a　swindlerto　be　ruined。　Examining；　moreover；　into　the　history　of　detected　crime；　John　Rex　discovered　one　thing。　　At　the　bottom　of　all　these　robberies；　deceptions；　and　swindles；　was　some　lucky　fellow　who　profited　by　the　folly　of　his　confederates。　This　gave　him　an　idea。　　Suppose　he　could　not　only　make　use　of　his　own　talents　to　rob　mankind；　but　utilize　those　of　others　also？　　Crime　runs　through　infinite　grades。　　He　proposed　to　himself　to　be　at　the　top；　but　why　should　he　despise　those　good　fellows　beneath　him？　His　speciality　was　swindling；　billiard…playing；　card…playing；　borrowing　money；　obtaining　goods；　never　risking　more　than　two　or　three　coups　in　a　year。　But　others　plundered　houses；　stole　bracelets；　watches；　diamondsmade　as　much　in　a　night　as　he　did　in　six　monthsonly　their　occupation　was　more　dangerous。　Now　came　the　questionwhy　more　dangerous？　　Because　these　men　were　mere　clods；　bold　enough　and　clever　enough　in　their　own　rude　way；　but　no　match　for　the　law；　with　its　Argus　eyes　and　its　Briarean　hands。　　They　did　the　rougher　business　well　enough；　they　broke　locks；　and　burst　doors；　and　〃neddied〃　constables；　but　in　the　finer　arts　of　plan；　attack；　and　escape；　they　were　sadly　deficient。　Good。　　These　men　should　be　the　hands；　he　would　be　the　head。　He　would　plan　the　robberies；　they　should　execute　them。

Working　through　many　channels；　and　never　omitting　to　assist　a　fellow…worker　when　in　distress；　John　Rex；　in　a　few　years；　and　in　a　most　prosaic　business　way；　became　the　head　of　a　society　of　ruffians。　　Mixing　with　fast　clerks　and　unsuspecting　middle…class　profligates；　he　found　out　particulars　of　houses　ill　guarded；　and　shops　insecurely　fastened；　and　〃put　up〃　Blicks's　ready　ruffians　to　the　more　dangerous　work。　　In　his　various　disguises；　and　under　his　many　names；　he　found　his　way　into　those　upper　circles　of　〃fast〃　society；　where　animals　turn　into　birds；　where　a　wolf　becomes　a　rook；　and　a　lamb　a　pigeon。　　Rich　spendthrifts　who　affected　male　society　asked　him　to　their　houses；　and　Mr。　Anthony　Croftonbury；　Captain　James　Craven；　and　Mr。　Lionel　Crofton　were　names　remembered；　sometimes　with　pleasure；　oftener　with　regret；　by　many　a　broken　man　of　fortune。　　He　had　one　quality　which；　to　a　man　of　his　profession；　was　invaluablehe　was　cautious；　and　master　of　himself。　　Having　made　a　success；　wrung　commission　from　Blicks；　rooked　a　gambling　ninny　like　Lemoine；　or　secured　an　assortment　of　jewellery　sent　down　to　his　〃wife〃　in　Gloucestershire；　he　would　disappear　for　a　time。　　He　liked　comfort；　and　revelled　in　the　sense　of　security　and　respectability。　　Thus　he　had　lived　for　three　years　when　he　met　Sarah　Purfoy；　and　thus　he　proposed　to　live　for　many　more。　With　this　woman　as　a　coadjutor；　he　thought　he　could　defy　the　law。　She　was　the　net　spread　to　catch　his　〃pigeons〃；　she　was　the　well…dressed　lady　who　ordered　goods　in　London　for　her　husband　at　Canterbury；　and　paid　half　the　price　down；　〃which　was　all　this　letter　authorized　her　to　do；〃　and　where　a　less　beautiful　or　clever　woman　might　have　failed；　she　succeeded。　Her　husband　saw　fortune　before　him；　and　believed　that；　with　common　prudence；　he　might　carry　on　his　most　lucrative　employment　of　〃gentleman〃　until　he　chose　to　relinquish　it。　　Alas　for　human　weakness！　He　one　day　did　a　foolish　thing；　and　the　law　he　had　so　successfully　defied　got　him　in　the　simplest　way　imaginable。

Under　the　names　of　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Skinner；　John　Rex　and　Sarah　Purfoy　were　living　in　quiet　lodgings　in　the　neighbourhood　of　Bloomsbury。　　Their　landlady　was　a　respectable　poor　woman；　and　had　a　son　who　was　a　constable。　This　son　was　given　to　talking；　and；　coming　in　to　supper　one　night；　he　told　his　mother　that　on　the　following　evening　an　attack　was　to　be　made　on　a　gang　of　coiners　in　the　Old　Street　Road。　　The　mother；　dreaming　all　sorts　of　horrors　during　the　night；　came　the　next　day　to　Mrs。　Skinner；　in　the　parlour；　and；　under　a　pledge　of　profound　secrecy；　told　her　of　the　dreadful　expedition　in　which　her　son　was　engaged。　John　Rex　was　out　at　a　pigeon　match　with　Lord　Bellasis；　and　when　he　returned；　at　nine　o'clock；　Sarah　told　him　what　she　had　heard。

Now；　4；　Bank…place；　Old　Street　Road；　was　the　residence　of　a　man　named　Green；　who　had　for　some　time　carried　on　the　lucrative　but　dangerous　trade　of　〃counterfeiting〃。　　This　man　was　one　of　the　most　daring　of　that　army　of　ruffians　whose　treasure　chest　and　master　of　the　mint　was　Blicks；　and　his　liberty　was　valuable。　　John　Rex；　eating　his　dinner　more　nervously　than　usual；　ruminated　on　the　intelligence；　and　thought　it　would　be　but　wise　to　warn　Green　of　his　danger。　Not　that　he　cared　much　for　Green　personally；　but　it　was　bad　policy　to　miss　doing　a　good　turn　to　a　comrade；　and；　moreover；　Green；　if　captured　might　wag　his　tongue　too　freely。　　But　how　to　do　it？　If　he　went　to　Blicks；　it　might　be　too　late；　he　would　go　himself。　He　went　outand　was　captured。　　When　Sarah　heard　of　the　calamity　she　set　to　work　to　help　him。　　She　collected　all　her　money　and　jewels；　paid　Mrs。　Skinner's　rent；　went　to　see　Rex；　and　arranged　his　defence。　Blicks　was　hopeful；　but　Greenwho　came　very　near　hangingadmitted　that　the　man　was　an　associate　of　his；　and　the　Recorder；　being　in　a　severe　mood；　transported　him　for　seven　years。　　Sarah　Purfoy　vowed　that　she　would　follow　him。　She　was　going　as　passenger；　as　emigrant；　anything；　when　she　saw　Mrs。　Vickers's　advertisement　for　a　〃lady's…maid；〃　and　answered　it。　It　chanced　that　Rex　was　shipped　in　the　Malabar；　and　Sarah；　discovering　this　before　the　vessel　had　been　a　week　at　sea；　conceived　the　bold　project　of　inciting　a　mutiny　for　the　rescue　of　her　lover。　We　know　the　result　of　that　scheme；　and　the　story　of　the　scoundrel's　subsequent　escape　from　Macquarie　Harbour。




CHAPTER　IV。

〃THE　NOTORIOUS　DAWES。〃



The　mutineers　of　the　Osprey　had　been　long　since　given　up　as　dead；