Page:Paul Clifford Vol 1.djvu/307

Rh air, the fitful moonlight now breaking broadly out, now lost in a rolling cloud, the exciting exercise, and that racy and dancing stir of the blood, which all action, whether evil or noble in its nature, raises in our veins; what with all this, we cannot but allow the fascination of that lawless life;—a fascination so great, that one of the most noted gentlemen highwaymen of the day, one too, who had received an excellent education, and mixed in no inferior society, is reported to have said when the rope was about his neck, and the good Ordinary was exhorting him to repent of his ill-spent life, "Ill-spent, you dog!—God! (smacking his lips,) it was delicious!"

"Fie! fie! Mr., raise your thoughts to Heaven!"

"But a canter across a common—oh!" muttered the criminal; and his soul cantered off to eternity.

So briskly leaped the heart of the leader of the three, that as they now came in view of the main road, and the distant wheel of a carriage whirred on the ear; he threw up his right hand with a