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I had been robbed in the Dunstable coach； and that I would go
to see the two highwaymen。 But when I came into the press…yard；
I so disguised myself； and muffled my face up so； that he could
see little of me； and consequently knew nothing of who I was；
and when I came back； I said publicly that I knew them very well。
Immediately it was rumoured all over the prison that Moll
Flanders would turn evidence against one of the highwaymen；
and that I was to come off by it from the sentence of transportation。
They heard of it； and immediately my husband desired to see
this Mrs。 Flanders that knew him so well； and was to be an
evidence against him； and accordingly I had leave given to go
to him。 I dressed myself up as well as the best clothes that I
suffered myself ever to appear in there would allow me； and
went to the press…yard； but had for some time a hood over my
face。 He said little to me at first； but asked me if I knew him。
I told him； Yes； very well； but as I concealed my face； so I
counterfeited my voice； that he had not the least guess at who
I was。 He asked me where I had seen him。 I told him between
Dunstable and Brickhill； but turning to the keeper that stood
by； I asked if I might not be admitted to talk with him alone。
He said Yes； yes； as much as I pleased； and so very civilly
withdrew。
As soon as he was gone； I had shut the door； I threw off my
hood； and bursting out into tears； 'My dear；' says I； 'do you not
know me？' He turned pale； and stood speechless； like one
thunderstruck； and； not able to conquer the surprise； said no
more but this； 'Let me sit down'； and sitting down by a table；
he laid his elbow upon the table； and leaning his head on his
hand； fixed his eyes on the ground as one stupid。 I cried so
vehemently； on the other hand； that it was a good while ere I
could speak any more； but after I had given some vent to my
passion by tears； I repeated the same words； 'My dear； do you
not know me？' At which he answered； Yes； and said no more
a good while。
After some time continuing in the surprise； as above； he cast
up his eyes towards me and said； 'How could you be so cruel？'
I did not readily understand what he meant； and I answered；
'How can you call me cruel？ What have I been cruel to you in？'
'To come to me；' says he； 'in such a place as this； is it not to
insult me？ I have not robbed you； at least not on the highway。'
I perceived by this that he knew nothing of the miserable
circumstances I was in； and thought that； having got some
intelligence of his being there； I had come to upbraid him
with his leaving me。 But I had too much to say to him to be
affronted； and told him in few words； that I was far from
coming to insult him； but at best I came to condole mutually；
that he would be easily satisfied that I had no such view；
when I should tell him that my condition was worse than his；
and that many ways。 He looked a little concerned at the
general expression of my condition being worse than his； but；
with a kind smile； looked a little wildly； and said； 'How can
that be？ When you see me fettered； and in Newgate； and two
of my companions executed already； can you can your condition
is worse than mine？'
'Come； my dear；' says I； 'we have along piece of work to do；
if I should be to related； or you to hear； my unfortunate history；
but if you are disposed to hear it； you will soon conclude with
me that my condition is worse than yours。' 'How is that possible；'
says he again； 'when I expect to be cast for my life the very
next sessions？' 'Yes； says I； ''tis very possible； when I shall
tell you that I have been cast for my life three sessions ago；
and am under sentence of death； is not my case worse than yours？'
Then indeed； he stood silent again； like one struck dumb； and
after a while he starts up。 'Unhappy couple！' says he。 'How
can this be possible？' I took him by the hand。 'Come； my
dear；' said I； 'sit down； and let us compare our sorrows。 I am
a prisoner in this very house； and in much worse circumstances
than you； and you will be satisfied I do not come to insult you；
when I tell you the particulars。' Any with this we sat down
together； and I told him so much of my story as I thought was
convenient； bringing it at last to my being reduced to great
poverty； and representing myself as fallen into some company
that led me to relieve my distresses by way that I had been
utterly unacquainted with； and that they making an attempt at
a tradesman's house； I was seized upon for having been but
just at the door； the maid…servant pulling me in； that I neither
had broke any lock nor taken anything away； and that
notwithstanding that； I was brought in guilty and sentenced
to die； but that the judges； having been made sensible of the
hardship of my circumstances； had obtained leave to remit the
sentence upon my consenting to be transported。
I told him I fared the worse for being taken in the prison for
one Moll Flanders； who was a famous successful thief； that
all of them had heard of； but none of them had ever seen； but
that； as he knew well； was none of my name。 But I placed all
to the account of my ill fortune； and that under this name I
was dealt with as an old offender； though this was the first
thing they had ever known of me。 I gave him a long particular
of things that had befallen me since I saw him； but I told him
if I had seen him since he might thing I had； and then gave
him an account how I had seen him at Brickhill； how furiously
he was pursued； and how； by giving an account that I knew
him； and that he was a very honest gentleman； one Mr。；
the hue…and…cry was stopped； and the high constable went
back again。
He listened most attentively to all my story； and smiled at
most of the particulars； being all of them petty matters； and
infinitely below what he had been at the head of； but when I
came to the story of Brickhill； he was surprised。 'And was it
you； my dear；' said he； 'that gave the check to the mob that
was at our heels there； at Brickhill？' 'Yes；' said I； 'it was I
indeed。' And then I told him the particulars which I had
observed him there。 'Why； then；' said he； 'it was you that
saved my life at that time； and I am glad I owe my life to you；
for I will pay the debt to you now； and I'll deliver you from
the present condition you are in； or I will die in the attempt。'
I told him； by no means； it was a risk too great； not worth his
running the hazard of； and for a life not worth his saving。
'Twas no matter for that； he said； it was a life worth all the
world to him； a life that had given him a new life； 'for；' says
he； 'I was never in real danger of being taken； but that time；
till the last minute when I was taken。' Indeed； he told me his
danger then lay in his believing he had not been pursued that
way； for they had gone from Hockey quite another way； and
had come over the enclosed country into Brickhill； not by the
road； and were sure they had not been seen by anybody。
Here he gave me a long history of his life； which indeed would
make a very strange history； and be infinitely diverting。 He
told me he took to the road about twelve years before he
married me； that the woman which called him brother was not
really his sister； or any kin to him； but one that belonged to
their gang； and who； keeping correspondence with him； lived
always in town； having good store of acquaintance； that she
gave them a perfect intelligence of persons going out of town；
and that they had made several good booties by her correspondence；
that she thought she had fixed a fortune for him when she brought
me to him； but happened to be disappointed； which he really
could not blame her for； that if it had been his good luck that
I had had the estate； which she was informed I had； he had
resolved to leave off the road and live a retired； sober live but
never to appear in public till some general pardon had been
passed； or till he could； for money； have got his name into
some particular pardon； that so he might have been perfectly
easy； but that； as it had proved otherwise； he was obliged to
put off his equipage and take up the old trade again。
He gave me a long account of some of his adventures； and
particularly one when he robbed the West Chester coaches
near Lichfield； when he got a very great booty； and after that；
how he robbed five graziers； in the west； going to Burford Fair
in Wiltshire to buy sheep。 He told me he got so much money
on those two occasions； that if he had known where to have
found me； he would certainly have embraced my proposal of
going with me to Virginia； or to have settled in a plantation
on some other parts of the English colonies in America。
He told me he wrote two or three letters