WhenIwasgotintothetownagreatwayfromtheinn，Imet
　　withanancientwomanwhohadjustopenedherdoor，andI
　　fellintochatwithher，andaskedheragreatmanywild
　　questionsofthingsallremotetomypurposeanddesign；but
　　inmydiscourseIfoundbyherhowthetownwassituated，
　　thatIwasinastreetthatwentouttowardsHadley，butthat
　　suchastreetwenttowardsthewater-side，suchastreettowards
　　Colchester，andsotheLondonroadlaythere。
　　Ihadsoonmyendsofthisoldwoman，forIonlywantedto
　　knowwhichwastheLondonroad，andawayIwalkedasfast
　　asIcould；notthatIintendedtogoonfoot，eithertoLondon
　　ortoColchester，butIwantedtogetquietlyawayfromIpswich。
　　Iwalkedabouttwoorthreemiles，andthenImetaplain
　　countryman，whowasbusyaboutsomehusbandrywork，Idid
　　notknowwhat，andIaskedhimagreatmanyquestionsfirst，
　　notmuchtothepurpose，butatlasttoldhimIwasgoingfor
　　London，andthecoachwasfull，andIcouldnotgetapassage，
　　andaskedhimifhecouldtellmewheretohireahorsethat
　　wouldcarrydouble，andanhonestmantoridebeforemeto
　　Colchester，thatsoImightgetaplacethereinthecoaches。
　　Thehonestclownlookedearnestlyatme，andsaidnothing
　　forabovehalfaminute，when，scratchinghispoll，’Ahorse，
　　sayyouandtoColchester，tocarrydouble？
　　whyyes，mistress，
　　alack-a-day，youmayhavehorsesenoughformoney。’
　　’Well，
　　friend，’saysI，’thatItakeforgranted；Idon’texpectitwithout
　　money。’
　　’Why，but，mistress，’sayshe，’howmuchareyou
　　willingtogive？’
　　’Nay，’saysIagain，’friend，Idon’tknow
　　whatyourratesareinthecountryhere，forIamastranger；
　　butifyoucangetoneforme，getitascheapasyoucan，and
　　I’llgiveyousomewhatforyourpains。’
　　’Why，that’shonestlysaidtoo，’saysthecountryman。
　　’Not
　　sohonest，neither，’saidItomyself，’ifthouknewestall。’
　　’Why，mistress，’sayshe，’Ihaveahorsethatwillcarrydouble，
　　andIdon’tmuchcareifIgomyselfwithyou，’andthelike。
　　’Willyou？’saysI；’well，Ibelieveyouareanhonestman；if
　　youwill，Ishallbegladofit；I’llpayyouinreason。’
　　’Why，
　　lookye，mistress，’sayshe，’Iwon’tbeoutofreasonwithyou，
　　then；ifIcarryyoutoColchester，itwillbeworthfiveshillings
　　formyselfandmyhorse，forIshallhardlycomebackto-night。’
　　Inshort，Ihiredthehonestmanandhishorse；butwhenwe
　　cametoatownupontheroadIdonotrememberthename
　　ofit，butitstandsuponariver，Ipretendedmyselfveryill，
　　andIcouldgonofartherthatnightbutifhewouldstaythere
　　withme，becauseIwasastranger，Iwouldpayhimforhimself
　　andhishorsewithallmyheart。
　　ThisIdidbecauseIknewtheDutchgentlemenandtheir
　　servantswouldbeupontheroadthatday，eitherinthe
　　stagecoachesorridingpost，andIdidnotknowbutthedrunken
　　fellow，orsomebodyelsethatmighthaveseenmeatHarwich，
　　mightseemeagain，andsoIthoughtthatinoneday’sstop
　　theywouldbeallgoneby。
　　Welayallthatnightthere，andthenextmorningitwasnot
　　veryearlywhenIsetout，sothatitwasnearteno’clockby
　　thetimeIgottoColchester。
　　ItwasnolittlepleasurethatI
　　sawthetownwhereIhadsomanypleasantdays，andImade
　　manyinquiriesafterthegoodoldfriendsIhadoncehadthere，
　　butcouldmakelittleout；theywerealldeadorremoved。
　　The
　　youngladieshadbeenallmarriedorgonetoLondon；theold
　　gentlemanandtheoldladythathadbeenmyearlybenefacress
　　alldead；andwhichtroubledmemost，theyounggentleman
　　myfirstlover，andafterwardsmybrother-in-law，wasdead；
　　buttwosons，mengrown，wereleftofhim，buttheytoowere
　　transplantedtoLondon。
　　Idismissedmyoldmanhere，andstayedincognitoforthree
　　orfourdaysinColchester，andthentookapassageinawaggon，
　　becauseIwouldnotventurebeingseenintheHarwichcoaches。
　　ButIneedednothaveusedsomuchcaution，fortherewas
　　nobodyinHarwichbutthewomanofthehousecouldhave
　　knownme；norwasitrationaltothinkthatshe，considering
　　thehurryshewasin，andthatsheneversawmebutonce，and
　　thatbycandlelight，shouldhaveeverdiscoveredme。
　　IwasnowreturnedtoLondon，andthoughbytheaccidentof
　　thelastadventureIgotsomethingconsiderable，yetIwasnot
　　fondofanymorecountryrambles，norshouldIhaveventured
　　abroadagainifIhadcarriedthetradeontotheendofmy
　　days。Igavemygovernessahistoryofmytravels；sheliked
　　theHarwichjourneywellenough，andindiscoursingofthese
　　thingsbetweenourselvessheobserved，thatathiefbeinga
　　creaturethatwatchestheadvantagesofotherpeople’smistakes，
　　’tisimpossiblebutthattoonethatisvigilantandindustrious
　　manyopportunitiesmusthappen，andthereforeshethought
　　thatonesoexquisitelykeeninthetradeasIwas，wouldscarce
　　failofsomethingextraordinarywhereverIwent。
　　Ontheotherhand，everybranchofmystory，ifdulyconsidered，
　　maybeusefultohonestpeople，andaffordaduecautionto
　　peopleofsomesortorothertoguardagainstthelikesurprises，
　　andtohavetheireyesaboutthemwhentheyhavetodowith
　　strangersofanykind，for’tisveryseldomthatsomesnareor
　　otherisnotintheirway。
　　Themoral，indeed，ofallmyhistory
　　islefttobegatheredbythesensesandjudgmentofthereader；
　　Iamnotqualifiedtopreachtothem。
　　Lettheexperienceof
　　onecreaturecompletelywicked，andcompletelymiserable，
　　beastorehouseofusefulwarningtothosethatread。
　　Iamdrawingnowtowardsanewvarietyofthescenesoflife。
　　Uponmyreturn，beinghardenedbyalongraceofcrime，and
　　successunparalleled，atleastinthereachofmyownknowledge，
　　Ihad，asIhavesaid，nothoughtsoflayingdownatradewhich，
　　ifIwastojudgebytheexampleofother，must，however，end
　　atlastinmiseryandsorrow。
　　ItwasontheChristmasdayfollowing，intheevening，that，
　　tofinishalongtrainofwickedness，Iwentabroadtoseewhat
　　mightofferinmyway；whengoingbyaworkingsilversmith’s
　　inFosterLane，Isawatemptingbaitindeed，andnotbe
　　resistedbyoneofmyoccupation，fortheshophadnobodyin
　　it，asIcouldsee，andagreatdealoflooseplatelayinthe
　　window，andattheseatoftheman，whousually，asIsuppose，
　　workedatonesideoftheshop。
　　Iwentboldlyin，andwasjustgoingtolaymyhandupona
　　pieceofplate，andmighthavedoneit，andcarrieditclearoff，
　　foranycarethatthemenwhobelongedtotheshophadtaken
　　ofit；butanofficiousfellowinahouse，notashop，onthe
　　othersideoftheway，seeingmegoin，andobservingthat
　　therewasnobodyintheshop，comesrunningoverthestreet，
　　andintotheshop，andwithoutaskingmewhatIwas，orwho，
　　seizesuponme，ancriesoutforthepeopleofthehouse。
　　Ihadnot，asIsaidabove，touchedanythingintheshop，and
　　seeingaglimpseofsomebodyrunningovertotheshop，Ihad
　　somuchpresenceofmindastoknockvery
　　hardwithmy
　　footonthefloorofthehouse，andwasjustcallingouttoo，
　　whenthefellowlaidhandsonme。
　　However，asIhadalwaysmostcouragewhenIwasinmost
　　danger，sowhenthefellowlaidhandsonme，Istoodvery
　　highuponit，thatIcameintobuyhalfadozenofsilverspoons；
　　andtomygoodfortune，itwasasilversmith’sthatsoldplate，
　　aswellasworkedplateforothershops。
　　Thefellowlaughed
　　atthatpart，andputsuchavalueupontheservicethathehad
　　donehisneighbour，thathewouldhaveitbethatIcamenot
　　tobuy，buttosteal；andraisingagreatcrowd。
　　Isaidtothe
　　masteroftheshop，whobythistimewasfetchedhomefrom
　　someneighbouringplace，thatitwasinvaintomakenoise，
　　andenterintotalkthereofthecase；thefellowhadinsisted
　　thatIcametosteal，andhemustproveit，andIdesiredwe
　　mightgobeforeamagistratewithoutanymorewords；forI
　　begantoseeIshouldbetoohardforthemanthathadseizedme。
　　Themasterandmistressoftheshopwerereallynotsoviolent
　　asthemanfromt’othersideoftheway；andthemansaid，
　　’Mistress，youmightcomeintotheshopwithagooddesign
　　foraughtIknow，butitseemedadangerousthingforyouto
　　comeintosuchashopasmineis，whenyouseenobodythere；
　　andIcannotdojusticetomyneighbour，whowassokindto
　　me，asnottoacknowledgehehadreasononhisside；though，
　　uponthewhole，Idonotfindyouattemptedtotakeanything，
　　andIreallyknownotwhattodoinit。’
　　Ipressedhimtogo
　　beforeamagistratewithme，andifanythingcouldbeproved
　　onmethatwaslikeadesignofrobbery，Ishouldwillingly
　　submit，butifnot，Iexpectedreparation。
　　Justwhilewewereinthisdebate，andacrowdofpeople
　　gatheredaboutthedoor，camebySirT。B。，analdermanof
　　thecity，andjusticeofthepeace，andthegoldsmithhearing
　　ofit，goesout，andentreatedhisworshiptocomeinand
　　decidethecase。
　　Givethegoldsmithhisdue，hetoldhisstorywithagreatdeal
　　ofjusticeandmoderation，andthefellowthathadcomeover，
　　andseizeduponme，toldhiswithasmuchheatandfoolish
　　passion，whichdidmegoodstill，ratherthanharm。
　　Itcame
　　thentomyturntospeak，andItoldhisworshipthatIwasa
　　strangerinLondon，beingnewlycomeoutofthenorth；thatI
　　lodgedinsuchaplace，thatIwaspassingthisstreet，andwent
　　intothegoldsmith’sshoptobuyhalfadozenofspoons。
　　By
　　greatluckIhadanoldsilverspooninmypocket，whichI
　　pulledout，andtoldhimIhadcarriedthatspoontomatchit
　　withhalfadozenofnewones，thatitmightmatchsomeIhad
　　inthecountry。
　　ThatseeingnobodyItheshop，Iknockedwithmyfootvery
　　hardtomakethepeoplehear，andhadalsocalledaloudwith
　　myvoice；’tistrue，therewaslooseplateintheshop，butthat
　　nobodycouldsayIhadtouchedanyofit，orgonenearit；that
　　afellowcamerunningintotheshopoutofthestreet，andlaid
　　handsonmeinafuriousmanner，intheverymomentswhile
　　Iwascallingforthepeopleofthehouse；thatifhehadreally
　　hadamindtohavedonehisneighbouranyservice，heshould
　　havestoodatadistance，andsilentlywatchedtoseewhether
　　Ihadtouchedanythingorno，andthenhaveclappedinupon
　　me，andtakenmeinthefact。
　　’Thatisverytrue，’saysMr。
　　Alderman，andturningtothefellowthatstoppedme，heasked
　　himifitwastruethatIknockedwithmyfoot？
　　Hesaid，yes，
　　Ihadknocked，butthatmightbebecauseofhiscoming。
　　’Nay，’