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
Now he had his cue, and now he came to me, and told me honestly the
whole story as above. So I delivered him the book, and he told me that
he thought it was reasonable we should not take the full sum, because
he would seem to have done them some service, and so make them the
easier. All this I agreed to; so he went the next day to the place, and
the gentlemen met him very punctually.
He told them at the first word he had done their work, and, as he
hoped, to their mind; and told them, if it had not been for the
diamonds, he could have got all for £10; but that the diamonds had
shone so bright in the boy’s imagination that he talked of running away
to France or Holland, and living there all his days like a gentleman;
at which they laughed. “However, gentlemen,” said he, “here is the
book;” and so pulled it out, wrapt up in a dirty piece of a coloured
handkerchief, as black as the street could make it, and sealed with a
piece of sorry wax, and the impression of a farthing for a seal.
Upon this, the note being also unsealed, at the same time he pulled
open the dirty rag, and showed the gentleman his pocket-book; at which
he was so over-surprised with joy, notwithstanding all the preparatory
discourse, that he was fain to call for a glass of wine or brandy to
drink, to keep him from fainting.
The book being opened, the paper of diamonds was first taken out, and
there they were every one; only the little paper was by itself; and the
rough diamonds that were in it were loose among the rest, but he owned
they were all there safe.
Then the bills were called over one by one, and they found one bill for
£80 more than the account mentioned, besides several papers which were
not for money, though of consequence to the gentleman; and he
acknowledged that all was very honestly returned. “And now, young man,”
said they, “you shall see we will deal as honestly by you;” and so, in
the first place, they gave him £50 for himself, and then they told out
the £50 for me.
He took the £50 for himself, and put it up in his pocket, wrapping it
in paper, it being all in gold; then he began to tell over the other
£50. But when he had told out £30, “Hold, gentlemen,” said he, “as I
have acted fairly for you, so you shall have no reason to say I do not
do so to the end. I have taken £30, and for so much I agreed with the
boy; and so there is £20 of your money again.”
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