; beyond this, excepting a take-in at a steeple
chase, Rookwood church being the mark, a "do" at a leap, or some such
trifle, to which the most scrupulous could not raise an objection, Dick
was all fair and above-board. But when poor Sir Piers had "put on his
wooden surtout," to use Dick's own expressive metaphor, his
conscientious scruples evaporated into thin air. Lady Rookwood was
nothing to him; there was excellent booty to be appropriated--

The wise _convey_ it call.

He began to look about for hands; and having accidentally encountered
his old comrades, Rust and Wilder, they were let into the business,
which was imperfectly accomplished in the manner heretofore described.

To return from this digression. When Turpin presented himself at the
threshold of the door, on his way to inquire after his mare, to his
astonishment he found it closely invested. A cheering shout from the
tawny throng, succeeded by a general clapping of hands, and attended by
a buzzing susurration of applause, such as welcomes the entrance of a
popular actor upon the stage, greeted the appearance of the highwayman.
At the first sight of the crowd he was a little startled, and
involuntarily sought for his pistols. But the demonstrations of
admiration were too unequivocal to be for a moment mistaken; his hand
was drawn from his pocket to raise his hat from his brow.

Thunders of applause.

Turpin's external man, we have before said, was singularly
prepossessing. It was especially so in the eyes of _the_ sex--fair we
certainly cannot say upon the present occasion--, amongst whom not a
single dissentient voice was to be heard. All concurred in thinking him
a fine fellow; could plainly read his high courage in his bearing; his
good breeding in his debonnaire deportment; and his manly beauty in his
extravagant red whiskers. Dick saw the effect that he produced. He was
at home in a moment. Your true highwayman has ever a passion for effect.
This does not desert him at the gallows; it rises superior to death
itself, and has been known to influence the manner of his dangling from
the gibbet! To hear some one cry, "There goes a proper handsome man,"
saith our previously quoted authority, Jack Hall, "somewhat ameliorates
the terrible thoughts of the meagre tyrant death; and to go in a dirty
shirt were enough to save the hangman a labor, and make a man die with
grief and shame at being in that deplorable condition." With a gracious
smile of conde