The History and Remarkable Life of the Truly Honourable Colonel Jacque, Commonly Called Colonel JackDefoe, Daniel
General
The History and Remarkable Life of the Truly Honourable Colonel Jacque, Commonly Called Colonel Jack
Defoe, Daniel
Adventure stories, English; England -- Social life and customs -- 18th century -- Fiction; Picaresque fiction
“And what do you cry so for?” said he. “I hope you have not lost your
money, have you?”
No, I told him, I had not lost it yet, but was afraid I should.
“And does that make you cry?” says he.
I told him yes, for I knew I should not be able to keep it, but they
would cheat me of it, or they would kill me and take it away from me
too.
“They?” says he. “Who? What sort of gangs of people art thou with?”
I told him they were all boys, but very wicked boys; “thieves and
pickpockets,” said I, “such as stole this letter-case—a sad pack; I
can’t abide them.”
“Well, Jacque,” said he, “what shall be done for thee? Will you leave
it with me? Shall I keep it for you?”
“Yes,” said I, “with all my heart, if you please.”
“Come, then,” says he, “give it me; and that you may be sure that I
have it, and you shall have it honestly again, I’ll give you a bill for
it, and for the interest of it, and that you may keep safe enough.
Nay,” added he, “and if you lose it, or anybody takes it from you, none
shall receive the money but yourself, or any part of it.”
I presently pulled out all the money, and gave it to him, only keeping
about 15s. for myself to buy some clothes; and thus ended the
conference between us on the first occasion, at least for the first
time. Having thus secured my money to my full satisfaction, I was then
perfectly easy, and accordingly the sad thoughts that afflicted my mind
before began to vanish away.
This was enough to let any one see how all the sorrows and anxieties of
men’s lives come about; how they rise from their restless pushing at
getting of money, and the restless cares of keeping it when they have
got it. I that had nothing, and had not known what it was to have had
anything, knew nothing of the care, either of getting or of keeping it;
I wanted nothing, who wanted everything; I had no care, no concern
about where I should get my victuals or how I should lodge; I knew not
what money was, or what to do with it; and never knew what it was not
to sleep till I had money to keep, and was afraid of losing it.
I had, without doubt, an opportunity at this time, if I had not been
too foolish, and too much a child to speak for myself—I had an
opportunity, I say, to have got into the service, or perhaps to be
under some of the care and concern, of these gentlemen; for they seemed
to be very fond of doing some thing for me, and were surprised at the
innocence of my talk to them, as well as at the misery (as they thought
it) of my condition.
But I acted indeed like a child; and leaving my money, as I have said,
I never went near them for several years after. What course I took, and
what befell me in that interval, has so much variety in it, and carries
so much instruction in it, that it requires an account of it by itself.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account