第97章

struckupthebarrelwithmystaff，sothattheshotpiercedthetester，andthenwithaspinandathwackI

broughtthegoodhollydownupontherascal’shead，inamannerwhichstretchedhimuponthefloor。

Meanwhiletheothertworobbershadtakenthealarm，andrushedatme，onewithapistolandonewithahanger；whichforcedmetobeverylively。Fearingthepistolmost，Iflungtheheavyvelvetcurtainofthebedacross，thathemightnotseewheretoaimatme，andthenstoopingveryquicklyIcaughtupthesenselessrobber，andsethimupforashieldandtarget；whereuponhewasshotimmediately，withouthavingthepainofknowingit；andahappythingitwasforhim。Nowtheothertwowereatmymercy，beingmenbelowtheaveragestrength；andnohanger，exceptinmostskilfulhands，aswellasfirmandstrongones，hasanychancetoapowerfulmanarmedwithastoutcudgel，andthoroughlypractisedinsingle-stick。

SoItookthesetworogues，andboundthemtogether；

andleavingthemunderchargeofthebutler(aworthyandshrewdScotchman)，Imyselfwentinsearchoftheconstables，whom，aftersomefewhours，Ifound；

neitherweretheysodrunkbutwhattheycouldtakeropedmentoprison。Inthemorning，thesetwomenwerebroughtbeforetheJusticesofthePeace：andnowmywonderfulluckappeared；forthemeritofhavingdefeated，andcaughtthem，wouldneverhaveraisedmeonestepintheState，orinpublicconsideration，iftheyhadonlybeencommonrobbers，orevennotoriousmurderers。Butwhenthesefellowswererecognised，bysomeoneinthecourt，asProtestantwitnessesoutofemployment，companionsandunderstrapperstoOates，andBedloe，andCarstairs，andhandinglovewithDangerfield，Turberville；andDugdale——inaword，theverymenagainstwhomHisMajestytheKingborethebitterestrancour，butwhomhehadhithertofailedtocatch——whenthiswaslaidbeforethepublic(withemphasisandadmiration)，atleastadozenmencameup，whomIhadneverseenbefore，andprayedmetoaccepttheircongratulations，andtobesuretorememberthem；

forallwereofneglectedmerit，andrequirednomorethanapieceofluck。

Iansweredthemverymodestly，andeachaccordingtohisworth，asstatedbyhimself，whoofcoursecouldjudgethebest。Themagistratemadememanycompliments，tentimesmorethanIdeserved，andtookgoodcaretohavethemcopied，thatHisMajestymightseethem。Anderethecasewasthoroughlyheard，andthosepoorfellowswerecommitted，morethanascoreofgenerousmenhadofferedtolendmeahundredpounds，wherewithtobuyanewCourtsuit，whencalledbeforeHisMajesty。

Nowthismayseemverystrangetouswholiveinabetterandpurerage——orsayatleastthatwedoso——andyetwhoarewetocondemnourfathersforteachingusbettermanners，andattheirownexpense？

Withthesepointsanyvirtuousmanisboundtodealquitetenderly，makingallowanceforcorruption，andnotbeingtoosureofhimself。Andtotellthetruth，althoughIhadseensolittleoftheworldasyet，thatwhichastonishedmeinthematter，wasnotsomuchthattheypaidmecourt，asthattheyfoundoutsosoontheexpediencyofdoingit。

InthecourseofthatsameafternoonIwassentforbyHisMajesty。HehadsummonedfirstthegoodEarlBrandir，andreceivedthetalefromhim，notwithoutexaggeration，althoughmylordwasaScotchman。ButthechiefthingHisMajestycaredtoknowwasthat，beyondallpossibledoubt，theseweretheverypreciousfellowsfromperjuryturnedtorobbery。

Beingfullyassuredatlastofthis，HisMajestyhadrubbedhishands，andorderedthebootsofastricterpattern(whichhehimselfhadinvented)tobebroughtatonce，thathemighthavetheminthebestpossibleorder。Andheoiledthemhimself，andexpressedhisfearthattherewasnomaninLondonquitecompetenttoworkthem。Neverthelesshewouldtryoneortwo，ratherthanwaitforhispleasure，tillthetorturercamefromEdinburgh。

Thenextthingbedidwastosendforme；andingreatalarmandflurryIputonmybestclothes，andhiredafashionablehairdresser，anddrankhalfagallonofale，becausebothmyhandswereshaking。ThenforthI

set，withmyhollystaff，wishingmyselfwelloutofit。Iwasshownatonce，andbeforeIdesiredit，intoHisMajesty’spresence，andthereIstoodmosthumbly，andmadethebestbowIcouldthinkof。

AsIcouldnotadvanceanyfarther——forIsawthattheQueenwaspresent，whichfrightenedmetenfold——HisMajesty，inthemostgraciousmanner，camedowntheroomtoencourageme。AndasIremainedwithmyheadbentdown，hetoldmetostandup，andlookathim。

’Ihaveseentheebefore，youngman，hesaid；’thyformisnotonetobeforgotten。Wherewasit？Thouartmostlikelytoknow。’

’MayitpleaseYourMostGraciousMajestytheKing，’I

answered，findingmyvoiceinamannerwhichsurprisedmyself；’itwasintheRoyalChapel。’

NowImeantnoharmwhat