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！
〃I want you to learn to read； Tommy dear。 Look at your mother there
118
… Page 119…
Catherine： A Story
over her books： she keeps them as neat as a scrivener now； and at twenty
she could make never a stroke。〃
〃Your godfather speaks for your good； child； and for me； thou knowest
that I have promised thee a gold…headed cane and periwig on the first day
that thou canst read me a column of the Flying Post。〃
〃Hang the periwig！〃 said Mr。 Tom； testily。 〃Let my godfather read the
paper himself； if he has a liking for it。〃
Whereupon the old gentleman put on his spectacles； and glanced over
the sheet of whity…brown paper； which； ornamented with a picture of a
gallows at the top； contained the biographies of the seven unlucky
individuals who had that morning suffered the penalty of the law。 With the
six heroes who came first in the list we have nothing to do； but have
before us a copy of the paper containing the life of No。 7； and which the
Doctor read in an audible voice。
〃CAPTAIN MACSHANE。
〃The seventh victim to his own crimes was the famous highwayman；
Captain Macshane； so well known as the Irish Fire…eater。
〃The Captain came to the ground in a fine white lawn shirt and
nightcap； and； being a Papist in his religion； was attended by Father
O'Flaherty； Popish priest； and chaplain to the Bavarian Envoy。
〃Captain Macshane was born of respectable parents； in the town of
Clonakilty； in Ireland； being descended from most of the kings in that
country。 He had the honour of serving their Majesties King William and
Queen Mary； and Her Majesty Queen Anne； in Flanders and Spain； and
obtained much credit from my Lords Marlborough and Peterborough for
his valour。
〃But being placed on half…pay at the end of the war； Ensign Macshane
took to evil courses； and； frequenting the bagnios and dice…houses； was
speedily brought to ruin。
〃Being at this pass； he fell in with the notorious Captain Wood； and
they two together committed many atrocious robberies in the inland
counties； but these being too hot to hold them； they went into the west；
where they were unknown。 Here； however； the day of retribution arrived；
for； having stolen three pewter…pots from a public…house； they； under false
119
… Page 120…
Catherine： A Story
names； were tried at Exeter； and transported for seven years beyond the
sea。 Thus it is seen that Justice never sleeps； but； sooner or latter； is sure to
overtake the criminal。
〃On their return from Virginia； a quarrel about booty arose between
these two； and Macshane killed Wood in a combat that took place between
them near to the town of Bristol； but a waggon coming up； Macshane was
obliged to fly without the ill…gotten wealth： so true is it； that wickedness
never prospers。
〃Two days afterwards； Macshane met the coach of Miss Macraw； a
Scotch lady and heiress； going； for lumbago and gout； to the Bath。 He at
first would have robbed this lady； but such were his arts； that he induced
her to marry him； and they lived together for seven years in the town of
Eddenboro； in Scotland；he passing under the name of Colonel Geraldine。
The lady dying； and Macshane having expended all her wealth； he was
obliged to resume his former evil courses； in order to save himself from
starvation； whereupon he robbed a Scotch lord； by name the Lord of
Whistlebinkie； of a mull of snuff； for which crime he was condemned to
the Tolbooth prison at Eddenboro； in Scotland； and whipped many times in
publick。
〃These deserved punishments did not at all alter Captain Macshane's
disposition； and on the 17th of February last； he stopped the Bavarian
Envoy's coach on Blackheath； coming from Dover； and robbed his
Excellency and his chaplain； taking from the former his money； watches；
star； a fur…cloak； his sword （a very valuable one）； and from the latter a
Romish missal； out of which he was then reading； and a case…bottle。〃
〃The Bavarian Envoy！〃 said Tom parenthetically。 〃My master；
Beinkleider； was his Lordship's regimental tailor in Germany； and is now
making a Court suit for him。 It will be a matter of a hundred pounds to
him； I warrant。〃
Doctor Wood resumed his reading。 〃Humhum！ A Romish missal； out
of which he was reading； and a case…bottle。
〃By means of the famous Mr。 Wild； this notorious criminal was
brought to justice； and the case…bottle and missal have been restored to
Father O'Flaherty。
120
… Page 121…
Catherine： A Story
〃During his confinement in Newgate； Mr。 Macshane could not be
brought to express any contrition for his crimes； except that of having
killed his commanding officer。 For this Wood he pretended an excessive
sorrow； and vowed that usquebaugh had been the cause of his death；
indeed； in prison he partook of no other liquor； and drunk a bottle of it on
the day before his death。
〃He was visited by several of the clergy and gentry in his cell； among
others； by the Popish priest whom he had robbed； Father O'FIaherty；
before mentioned； who attended him likewise in his last moments （if that
idolatrous worship may be called attention）； and likewise by the Father's
patron； the Bavarian Ambassador； his Excellency Count Maximilian de
Galgenstein。〃
As old Wood came to these words； he paused to give them utterance。
〃What！ Max？〃 screamed Mrs。 Hayes； letting her ink…bottle fall over
her ledgers。
〃Why； be hanged if it ben't my father！〃 said Mr。 Billings。
〃Your father； sure enough； unless there be others of his name； and
unless the scoundrel is hanged；〃 said the Doctorsinking his voice；
however； at the end of the sentence。
Mr。 Billings broke his pipe in an agony of joy。 〃I think we'll have the
coach now； Mother；〃 says he； 〃and I'm blessed if Polly Briggs shall not
look as fine as a duchess。〃
〃Polly Briggs is a low slut； Tom； and not fit for the likes of you； his
Excellency's son。 Oh； fie！ You must be a gentleman now； sirrah； and I
doubt whether I shan't take you away from that odious tailor's shop
altogether。〃
To this proposition Mr。 Billings objected altogether； for； besides Mrs。
Briggs before alluded to； the young gentleman was much attached to his
master's daughter； Mrs。 Margaret Gretel； or Gretchen Beinkleider。
〃No；〃 says he。 〃There will be time to think of that hereafter； ma'am。 If
my pa makes a man of me； why； of course； the shop may go to the deuce；
for what I care； but we had better wait； look you； for something certain
before we give up such a pretty bird in the hand as this。〃
〃He speaks like Solomon；〃 said the Doctor。
121
… Page 122…
Catherine： A Story
〃I always said he would be a credit to his old mother； didn't I； Brock？〃
cried Mrs。 Cat； embracing her son very affectionately。 〃A credit to her； ay；
I warrant； a real blessing！ And dost thou want any money； Tom？ for a
lord's son must not go about without a few pieces in his pocket。 And I tell
thee； Tommy； thou must go and see his Lordship； and thou shalt have a
piece of brocade for a waistcoat； thou shalt； ay； and the silver…hilted sword
I told thee of； but oh； Tommy； Tommy！ have a care； and don't be a…
drawing of it in naughty company at the gaming…houses； or at the〃
〃A drawing of fiddlesticks； Mother！ If I go to see my father； I must
have a reason for it； and instead of going with a sword in my hand； I shall
take something else in it。〃
〃The lad IS a lad of nous；〃 cried Doctor Wood； 〃although his mother
does spoil him so cruelly。 Look you； Madam Cat： did you not hear what he
said about Beinkleider and the clothes？ Tommy will just wait on the Count