Always a diplomatist rather than
a general, she gave up the battlefield for the council chamber. She
planned the robberies which defter hands achieved; and, turning herself
from cly-filer to fence, she received and changed to money all the
watches and trinkets stolen by the gang.

Were a citizen robbed upon the highway, he straightway betook himself to
Moll, and his property was presently returned him at a handsome price.
Her house, in short, became a brokery. Hither the blades and divers
brought their purchases, and sought the ransom; hither came the outraged
victims to buy again the jewels and rings which thievish fingers
had pinched. With prosperity her method improved, until at last her
statesmanship controlled the remotest details of the craft. Did one of
her gang get to work overnight and carry off a wealthy swag, she had due
intelligence of the affair betimes next morning, so that, furnished
with an inventory of the booty, she might make a just division, or be
prepared for the advent of the rightful owner.

So she gained a complete ascendency over her fellows. And when once her
position was assured, she came forth a pitiless autocrat. Henceforth the
gang existed for her pleasure, not she for the gang's; and she was as
urgent to punish insubordination as is an empress to avenge the heinous
sin of treason. The pickpocket who had claimed her protection knew no
more the delight of freedom. If he dared conceal the booty that was
his, he had an enemy more powerful than the law, and many a time did
contumacy pay the last penalty at the gallows. But the faithful also had
their reward, for Moll never deserted a comrade, and while she lived
in perfect safety herself she knew well how to contrive the safety of
others. Nor was she content merely to discharge those duties of the
fence for which an instinct of statecraft designed her. Her restless
brain seethed with plans of plunder, and if her hands were idle it was
her direction that emptied half the pockets in London. Having drilled
her army of divers to an unparalleled activity, she cast about for some
fresh method of warfare, and so enrolled a regiment of heavers, who
would lurk at the mercers' doors for an opportunity to carry off ledgers
and account-books. The price of redemption was fixed by Moll herself,
and until the mercers were aroused by frequent losses to a quicker
vigilance, the trade was profitably secure.

Meanwhile new clients were ever seeking her aid, an