CHAPTER I.The Period

laceinthecapitalitselfeverynightfamilieswerepubliclycautionednottogooutoftownwithoutremovingtheirfurnituretoupholsterers’warehousesforsecuritythehighwaymaninthedarkwasaCitytradesmaninthelight,and,beingrecognisedandchallengedbyhisfellow-tradesmanwhomhestoppedinhischaracterof“theCaptain,”gallantlyshothimthroughtheheadandrodeawaythemailwaswaylaidbysevenrobbers,andtheguardshotthreedead,andthengotshotdeadhimselfbytheotherfour,“inconsequenceofthefailureofhisammunition:”afterwhichthemailwasrobbedinpeacethatmagnificentpotentate,theLordMayorofLondon,wasmadetostandanddeliveronTurnhamGreen,byonehighwayman,whodespoiledtheillustriouscreatureinsightofallhisretinueprisonersinLondongaolsfoughtbattleswiththeirturnkeys,andthemajestyofthelawfiredblunderbussesinamongthem,loadedwithroundsofshotandballthievessnippedoffdiamondcrossesfromthenecksofnoblelordsatCourtdrawing-roomsmusketeerswentintoSt.Giles’s,tosearchforcontrabandgoods,andthemobfiredonthemusketeers,and