264 HIGHIVAYS AND HORSES. 



good ! " But the matter having been satisfactorily 

 explained, and King's identity having been proved 

 beyond doubt, these two rascals were ever afterwards 

 capital friends. 



I cannot be answerable for all the tales told of 

 Turpin, but have chosen those fictions wh-ich possess 

 a substratum of truth. He is said to have stopped 

 Lord C.'s coach. Tom King, the highwayman, with 

 whom Turpin became very intimate, had suggested 

 his doing so. Highwaymen, who by their nefarious 

 trade managed to live like gentlemen, in frequenting 

 Vauxhall, Ranelagh Gardens, and the noted coffee and 

 gambling-houses, frequently scraped acquaintance with 

 the gentlemen and noblemen of that period ; such is 

 stated to have been the case with King. Lord C. was 

 very well known to him, so an old writer declares. 

 Notwithstanding this fact, he agreed with Turpin 

 to stop his lordship's coach ; the account of his doing 

 so is so graphic that I do not think I can do better 

 than give it literally, since it affords us the opportunity 

 of judging how these light-fingered gentry became 

 possessed of their fortunes, which ill-gotten gains were 

 frequently squandered in a single night at the gaming- 

 tables which then abounded in all parts of the metro- 

 polis ; it was a case of light come, light go. 



When King had thoroughly explained his views, 

 Turpin readily agreed to them, " I like it much," 

 replied he ; " here's my hand on't ; and for my part 

 of the business, fortune favouring, consider it as done. 

 You must not, however, be seen, Tom, as he will 

 be sure to recognise you, though I did not. Leave 

 it all to me ; only detain our bird a few minutes at 

 the ' Star,' and if I don't pluck his feathers, call 

 me a bungler if you like." 



" I don't approve of your having all the danger, 



