Rookwood

captain's the finest

r's O

showily dressed, in such wise that he looked half like a fine gentleman of that day, half like a jockey of our own. His nether man appeared in well-fitting, well-worn buckskins, and boots with tops, not unconscious of the saddle; while the airy extravagance of his broad-skirted, sky-blue riding coat, the richness of his vest-the pockets of which were beautifully exuberant, according to the mode of 1737-the smart luxuriance of his cravat, and a certain curious taste in the size and style of his buttons, proclaimed that, in his own esteem at least, his person did not appear altogether unworthy of decoration; nor, in justice to Jack, can we allow that he was in error. He was a model of a man for five feet ten; square, compact, capitally built in every particular, excepting that his legs were slightly imbowed, which defect probably arose fr

h a grunt of defiance he resumed his occupation, without returning the bow of the latter, or bestowing further notice upon him. Nothing discomposed at the churchman's d

sked Titus, noticing the dusty

all your red fustian. Ah, how poor Sir Piers used to like it! Well, that's all over-a glass like this might do him good in his present quarters! I'm afraid I'm intruding. But the fact is,

e chief mourner-and I expect you to be a mourner-and everybody else to be mourners.

le here already," returned

s the eating and drinking to go for?

ck, archly. "Lady Rookwo

ip's abigail. All the rest go with me, and

t what time d

a line, and a long line we'll make. I'm waiting for that ou

occupy, think you?"

nute-that is, if we can get all together, so don't be out of the way. And hark ye, Jack, you must

ed Palmer. "But who were

with the other gentlefolk, in the great room up-stairs, to be out of the way.

g care of themselves below, and Peter Bradley has not made his appearance, so y

ans," repl

answering the summons, a long-necke

t night, I presume?" said Ja

amine Hugh Badger's wounds the first thing this morning; and a

dangerous?" in

mean that," replied the Iris

retty hardish bout of it, I understa

uired Small, who

r," replied Jack; "they were of

e devil's dance, all around the park, killing a hound as savage as a wolf, and breaking Hugh Badger's head, which is as hard and thick as a butcher's block, what does the fellow do but dive into a pool, with

ack; "bravo! he's a lad

inquired th

ure," replied Jack; "who e

ou might have heard some intelligence. We'v

aimed Jack; "a

by the name of

it was he? Murder in Irish! that bates

been heard of for some time-shockingly incorrig

llow as ever crossed tit's back; only a little wildish and unreasonable, as the best of us may be; wants breaking

and am sorry when any of 'em come to hurt; and, in the second, I'd be mighty displeased if

undoubted offshoot of the old squire. His mother was a servant-maid at the hall, I rather think.

ite well, though I was but a boy then; a lovely creature, and so taking, I don't wonder that Sir Piers was smitten with her

Let me see, wasn't there something rather odd in the way in which she die

ile Titus affected not to hear the remark, but occupied himself with his wine-glass. Small snored audibly. "I was too young,

sort of thing is remembered. One would think people had something else to do than talk of one's private affairs for ever. For my part, I despise such tattle. But ther

im. Let me once lay hands upon him, and I'll put a gag i

ake of the family. Nobody likes his friends to be talked about. So I'd settle the matter amicably, were I you. Just let the fe

d stag' already. At all events, he'll pay deer for his night's sport, you may depe

As to Lady Rookwood, she don't, I suppose, care much about idle reports. Indeed, if I've been rightly informed, she bears this youngster no particular good-will t

tered Coates

a lad should swing for killing a bit

t'ral right to d

life of his father's, or anybody else's gamekeeper," retorted Coates.

hat, I hope," i

said Titus: "on my conscience, these poache

park, as you would reduce a plethoric patient, doctor; or as you would work a moneyed client, if you got him into Chancery, Mister Attorney. And then how much more scientifically and systematically they set to work than we amateurs do! how noiselessly they bag a hare, smoke a pheasant, or knock a buck down with an air-gun! how independent are they of any license, except that of a good eye, and a swift pair

scarcely deserves a serious answer. I make no doubt yo

wayman's business to be thoroughly acquainted with the world. He is the easiest and pleasantest fellow going. There is Tom King, for example: he is the handsomest man about town, and the best-bred fellow on the road. Then whose inclinations are so uncontrolled as the highwayman's, so long as the mopuses last? who produces so great an effect by so few words?-'Stand and deliver!' is sure to arrest attention. Every one is captivated by an address so taking. As to money, he wins a purse of a hundred guineas as easily as you would the same sum from the faro table. And wherein lies the difference? only in the name of the game. Who so little need of a banker as he? all he has to apprehend is a check-all he has to draw is a trigger. As to the women, they dote upon him: not even your red-coat is so successful. Look at a highwayman mounted on his flying steed, with his pistols in his holsters, and his mask upon his face. What can be a more gallant sight? The clatter of his horse's heels i

he, may I ask

with his snappers. And then his dress-it was quite beautiful to see how smartly he was rigg'd out, all velvet and lace; and even with his vizard on his face, the ladies used to cry out to see him. Then he took a purse with the air and grace of a receiver-general. All the women adored him

ken, I suppose

lection, Jack became for once in his life sentimental, and sighed. "Poor Du-Val! he was seized at the Hole-in-the-Wall in Chandos-street

s, with a sneer, "that so fine a gentlem

worthy of the name of man, that would not prefer such a death before a mean, solitary, inglorious li

a very favorable opinion of Jack's vocal powers, and was by no

d looks of Coates, sang with much unction the following ballad to a g

ER OF H

ascal of e

otorious t

er Captain, ga

obody c

ntest coxcomb

coranto, a

d Frenchman, Cl

obody c

k never a co

a pocket, or

hand than Old

obody c

reaker ever de

rn lid of a g

f good fellows, To

obody c

ellow on br

h oath bid tr

ay-care Will

obody c

naught could ex

nd Grey, and

steps of bold

obody c

y so handily

ho stood on th

jailers around h

obody c

waymen ever

security, da

ck Turpin's Black

obody c

our English robbers are nothing at all, compared with our Tories[14] and Rapparees-no

"the gentlemen I speak of never maltr

I made about them myself. But meanwhile don't let's forget the bottle-talking's dry work. My service to you, doctor!" added he, winking at the somnolent Small. A

RAPP

of his Turpins and Sheppa

, and Swiftnecks[15]-it's

s of Ireland, they don't

ny rascals like those

mond O'Hanlon, allowed the f

ovince of Ulster the R

nt fellow, as ever y

uss trigger, or handling

il squadron as that whic

ly, Shan Bernagh, Phil G

oys like 'em for rows,

the country, and hence the

at Tory[18] of Munster, a

on of Leinster, a horse-

o lively, not death e'e

gallows, he played his ow

f, and Mulhoni, I think

utiful science of giv

ow his leaders, ould Pu

t Tyburn, and bothering

urly-pate Tory, whose nod

Songster,"[20] we never

was anointed, and warr

yet twisted his wonder

hir na Cappul, the han

word, and your horse wil

our stable, though you or

e paddock, if Cahir g

es of Ireland, the gener

s[21] of England are not

ting to show what preceden

s are Tories, while those

ied Jack, drummi

science. But there's a rascal on our side of the Channel, whom you have only

sked Jack, with

ite as worthy of mention as any of the Hinds, the Du-Va

ling; "though, if I had, he scarcely deserves

the best nag in the United Kingdom, and can ride fast

f satisfaction. "I should like to try a run w

o get a peep at

," added Coa

ey say, is like speaking of the devil, he's at your elbow ere the word's well out of yo

Yorkshire! I thought he confined his exploits to the neighborh

ates, comes within Dick's present range; and Saint Nicholas only knows in which part of it he is most likely to be found.

peevishly. "Government ought to look to it. Is the whole kingdom to be kept in a state of agi

imed Jack, emp

t," said Coates, "in which I have spoken my mind pretty plainly: and I repeat, it

Jack, "or I should beg the favor to hear it?-I am not acquainte

uckily I have the paper in my pocket; and you are quite welcome to my opinions. Here it is," added

means,"

a country that hath formerly emulated the Romans in their public spirit; as is

got to do with Turp

e principle,'" continued he, with great emphasis, "'though not utterly lost, I cannot

is more than 'common sense' i

ious Turpin, who hath robb'd in a manner scarce ever known before for several years, and is grown so insolent and impudent

ted Jack, laughing immode

thief by the whole kingdom, shall for so long a time conti

oared Jack, laughing till the tears r

y particular member of the community sensible of the public calamity, and ambitious of the honor of extirpating such a notorious highwayman from society, since he owes his long successes to no other cause than his immoderate impudence, and the sloth and pusilla

u Whigs, new or old, always

tes, disregarding the interruption, "I repeat, I am ambitious of ext

or I suppose you do not expect to catch this 'ought-to-

r," replied Coates, pettishly; "and to be plain

offered for Turpin's ap

"and that's no trifle, as you will both admit. Hav

Jack, with affe

appearance of curiosity; "do you

rated thief-taker. He apprehended Spicket, and Child, and half a dozen others, and always kept their descriptions in his pocket. I endeavor to tread in my worthy father's foots

Coates askance; "like me-how a

Gazette, June 28th, A.D. 1737:-'It having been represented to the King that Richard Turpin did, on Wednesday, the 4th of May last, rob on his Majesty's highway Vavasour Mowbray, Esq., Major of the 2d troop of Horse Grenadiers'-that Major Mowbray, by-the-by, is a nephew of the late Sir Piers, and cous

ke to lay hands upon Turpin," added he, slapping Palmer's sh

lied Palmer, shi

ted, in Essex; is about thirty'-you, sir, I believ

luffly. "But what has my ag

, however, to proceed:-'Is by trade a butcher,'-you,

Jack. "But Turpin, though described as a butcher, is, I understand

w him," replied Coates-"a terrible liar!-The modern Turpin 'is ab

," answered Jack, s

turbed attorney, deliberately proceeding with his examinati

orid-my face without

replied Coates, with a grin. "Nobody wear

k, sternly. "Yo

r. Hear me out, however-'his cheek bones are broad-his face is thinner towards the bottom-his visage short-pretty uprigh

leman being likened to a highwayman. But if ever there was a highwayman I'd wish to resemble, it's either Re

or not, the Lord knows. But if ever I meet with Turpin I shall bear you in mind-he-he! Ah! if ever I should have the good luck to stumble up

a lamb; with his foes, especially with a limb of the law like yourself, he's been found but an ugly customer. I once saw him at Newmarket, where he was collared by two constable culls, one on ea

with him, if you were there, as you b

ere neck and neck. I was the only person who could have de

it should be neck or nothing. Either he or I should rea

in?" cried Jac

"I'll bet you a hundred guineas I tak

the table at the same time, so

cried Titus. "I'

the matter?" exclaimed Sma

et about a highway

ll. "Eh! what? there are n

leman has taken up the defence of the notorio

ictu Turpe," returned Small. "The le

as you say, sir-were Dick here, he would,

around which the company were seated. His appearance excited the utmost astonishment in the whole group: curiosity was exhibited in every countenance-the magnum remain

ulated he, as soon as the

ere?" echoed P

inisters!" ex

with a theatrical start; "th

Dr. Small, you will excuse the manner of my greeting; and you, Mr. Coates. One o

man, bowing profoundly-"I am Dr. Tyrc

id my father breathe his l

itus, again bowing, "departe

cise minute?" aske

as I can recollect, it might be

room. A slight shudder passed over his frame. There was a momentary pause, during which Ranulph continued gazing intently at the apparel. "The very dress, too!" muttered he; then turning to th

d the sanctum, "a mighty fine boy is this young Sir Ranulph!-and

the door. "But what the devil broug