116 SCAMPS. 



which I, as often as I could, manoeuvred 

 to prevent. He had a bold familiar air, 

 and a fluent as well as specious tongue, 

 which, with a tolerable good-looking face, 

 and no small share of impudence, caused 

 him to pass current with many as a man 

 of some import, though it did not require 

 a very keen observer to detect the vulgar 

 character beneath the assumed garb of gen- 

 tility. His conversation was at all times in 

 derision of morality and religion, and, con- 

 cluding "all men were liars," he thought 

 himself justified in practising every sort of 

 deception upon the simple and unwary, 

 that he might despoil them of their coin 

 always taking care to keep within the 

 pale of the law. 



He was quite an adept in the art pos- 

 sessed by one of Dickens's heroes that of 

 making exchanges in hats, great-coats, 

 whips, and even a set of harness he has 

 been known to purloin in this way. 

 Horse-stealing was too easy of detection, 



