Page:Fortunes and misfortunes of the famous Moll Flanders.pdf/13

   of the Famous Moll Flanders. 13

One day as I was walking along the ſtreet, near Covent-garden, there was a cry of, Stop thief, a mercer's ſhop being robbed, and I was ſecured as a   tranſgreſſor; and haughtily inſulted by    the mercer and his ſervants. In a little time they got the right thief, who was much in the ſame habit, but for this affront, I threatened to proſe- cute him at law, and obliged him to   come to an agreement, where I got an    hundred & fifty pounds, which with my    other ſubſiſtence might have done well to have maintain'd me; but having got ſuch an itch for thieving, I could not leave it off. I had the opportunity of commen- cing a coiner, but that being ſuch a   beggarly, and yet ſo dangerous a bu- ſineſs, that I could never embark in it; nor could I be brought into the ſociety of houſe-breakers. No perſon could be more dexterous at ſtealing gold watches from ladies ſides, either at the Park, play-houſe, or   the church. But to particulariſe them all, would be tedious. I was very dexterous at gaming, and, at one time cleared 73 guineas.