Part 5

Some time after that affair with the fence, one of the mob said to me, “I have got a place cut and dried; will you come and do it?” So I said, “Yes; what tools will you want?” And he said, “We shall want some twirls and the stick (crowbar), and bring a neddie (life preserver) with you.” And he said, “Now don’t stick me up (disappoint); meet me at six to-night.” At six I was in the meet (trysting-place), and while waiting for my pal I had my daisies cleaned, and I piped the fence that bested me go along with his old woman (wife) and his two kids (children), so I thought of his own words, “Do anybody, but mind they don’t do you.” He was going to the Surrey Theatre, so when my pal came up I told him all about it. So we went and screwed (broke into) his place, and got thirty-two quid, and a toy and tackle which he had bought on the crook. We did not go and do the other place after that. About two moon after this the same fence fell for buying two finns (_£_5 notes), for which he got a stretch and a half. A little while after this I fell at Isleworth for being found in a conservatory adjoining a parlour, and got remanded at the Tench (House of Detention) for nine days, but neither Snuffy (Reeves, the identifier) nor Mac (Macintyre) knew me, so I got a drag, and was sent to the Steel. While I was in there, I see the fence who we done, and he held his duke at me as much as to say, “I would give you something, if I could;” but I only laughed at him. I was out about seven moon, when one night a pal of mine was half drunk, and said something to a copper (policeman) which he did not like; so he hit my pal, and I hit him in return. So we both set about him. He pulled out his staff, and hit me on the nut, and cut it open. Then two or three more coppers came up, and we got smugged, and got a sixer (six months) each. So I see the fence again in Stir.

Quelque temps après ce _flanche_ avec le _fourgat_ une des _poisses_ de la _gance_ me _bonnit_, “J’ai un _poupard nourri_, veux-tu en être?” Que je lui _bonnis_, “_Gy_, de quelles _alènes_ as-tu besoin?” Il me _jacte_, “Il nous faut des _rossignols_ et le _sucre de pomme_; tu apporteras un _tourne-clef_.” Il me _bonnit_, “Ne me _lâche_ pas au bon moment, nous nous rencontrerons à six _plombes_ cette _nogue_.” Six _plombes crossaient_ quand j’ai _aboulé_ au rendez-vous, et en attendant mon _fanande_ je faisais cirer mes _ripatons_, quand j’ai _mouchaillé_ le _fourgue_ qui m’avait _refait_ qui se _balladait_ avec sa _fesse_ et ses deux _mômes_. Alors j’ai pensé à ce qu’il m’avait _bonni_, “_Mène_ les _sinves en bateau_ mais ne laisse pas _gourer tézigue_.” Il allait à la _misloque_ de Surrey, alors, quand mon _poteau aboule_, je lui _dégueularde_ tout le _flanche_. Puis nous _filons le luctrème_, nous _enquillons_ dans la _piole_ et nous _mettons la pogne sur_ trente-deux _sigues_, sur un _bogue_ et une _bride_ que le fourgue avait _abloqués à la manque_. Nous ne sommes pas allés aux autres endroits après cela. Deux _marques_ après, ce même _fourgue_ a été _poissé_ pour avoir _abloqué_ deux _fafiots_ de cinq livres sterling, et _sapé_ à une _longe_ et six _marques_. Peu de temps après j’ai été _emballé_ à Isleworth pour avoir été _pigé_ dans une serre voisine d’un parloir et remis à la Tench pour neuf _reluis_, mais ni Snuffy ni Mac ne me _conobraient_, de sorte que j’ai été _sapé_ à trois _marques_ et _malade_ à la _motte_. Pendant que j’y étais, j’ai vu le _fourgue_ que nous avions _refait_, et il a tendu la _pince_ de mon côté comme pour _bonnir_, “Je te _refilerais une purge_ si je pouvais,” mais cela m’a fait _rigoler_. J’étais _guéri_ depuis environ sept _marques_ quand une _sorgue_, un de mes _fanandes_, qui était _poivre_, _jacte_ quelque chose à un _roussin_ qui ne l’ayant pas à la _bonne_, l’a _sonné_ et moi j’ai _sonné_ le _roussin_ à mon tour. Tous deux alors nous lui avons _travaillé le cadavre_. Il a tiré son bâton, m’a _sonné_ le _citron_ et me l’a fendu. Alors deux ou trois _roussins_ sont arrivés, nous ont _emballés_ et nous avons été _gerbés_ à six _marques_. De sorte que j’ai revu le _fourgue_ au _château_.

On the Boxing-day after I came out I got stabbed in the chest by a pal of mine who had done a schooling. We was out with one another all the day getting drunk, so he took a liberty with me, and I landed him one on the conk (nose); so we had a fight, and he put the chive (knive) into me. This made me sober, so I asked him what made him such a coward. He said, “I meant to kill you; let me kiss my wife and child, and then smug me.” But I did not do that. This made me a little thoughtful of the sort of life I was carrying on. I thought, “What if I should have been killed then!” But this, like other things, soon passed away.

Au Boxing-day après ma _guérison_, un de mes _fanandes_ m’a _refilé_ un coup de _bince_ dans le _haricot_. Il avait été déjà _enfouraillé_ au _collège_. Nous nous étions _balladés_ tout le _luisant_ en nous _poivrottant_, de sorte que m’ayant manqué de respect, je lui ai _collé une châtaigne_ sur le _morviau_. Nous nous sommes _empoignés_ et il a joué du _surin_. Cela m’a dégrisé et je lui ai demandé pourquoi il s’était montré aussi lâche. Il me _bonnit_, “Je voulais t’_estourbir_. Laisse-moi aller _sucer la pomme_ à ma _largue_ et mon _môme_ et fais-moi _emballer_.” Mais je n’ai pas voulu. Cela m’a fait réfléchir un peu au genre de vie que je menais et je me dis, “J’aurais bien pu être _refroidi_.” Mais bientôt je n’y pensai plus.

After the place got well where I was chived, me and another screwed a place at Stoke Newington, and we got some squeeze (silk) dresses, and two sealskin jackets, and some other things. We tied them in a bundle, and got on a tram. It appears they knew my pal, and some reelers got up too. So when I piped them pipe the bundle, I put my dukes on the rails of the tram and dropped off, and guyed down a double before you could say Jack Robinson. It was a good job I did, or else I should have got lagged (sent to penal servitude), and my pal too, because I had the James (crowbar) and screws (skeleton keys) on me. My pal got a stretch and a half. A day or two after this I met the fence who I done; so he said to me, “We have met at last.” So I said, “Well, what of that?” So he said, “What did you want to do me for?” So I said, “You must remember you done me; and when I spoke to you about it you said, ‘Do anybody; mind they don’t do you.’” That shut him up.

Une fois guéri du coup de _bince_, nous avons _refilé le luctrème_ d’une _piole_ à Stoke Newington, et nous avons _grinchi_ des robes de _lyonnaise_ et deux jaquettes de peau de phoque et d’autre _camelote_. Nous en avons fait un _pacsin_ et nous avons pris le tram. On _conobrait_ mon _fanande_, paraît-il, et des _rousses_ y montent avec _nouzailles_. Quand je vois qu’ils _remouchent_ le _pacsin_, je mets mes _agrafes_ sur le _pieu_ d’appui du tram, je saute, je _fais patatrot_ au coin de la rue et je cours encore. C’est _bate_ pour moi d’avoir agi ainsi autrement j’aurais été _gerbé à bachasse_ et mon _fanande_ aussi parceque j’avais le _Jacques_ et les _caroubles_ sur _mézigue_. Mon _fanande_ a été _sapé_ à une _longe_ et demie. Un _reluis_ ou deux après, je me _casse le mufle_ sur le _fourgat_ que j’avais _refait_, et il me _jacte_, “Te voilà enfin!” Je lui réponds, “Eh bien, et puis après?” “Pourquoi m’as-tu _refait_?” dit-il. Et je lui réponds, “Rappelle-toi que tu as _refait mon gniasse_, et quand je t’en ai _jacté_ tu m’as _répondu_, ‘_Mène en bateau_ qui tu voudras, mais ne te laisse pas _enfoncer_.’” Et cela a coupé la _chique_ à _sézigue_.

One day I went to Lewisham and touched for a lot of wedge. I tore up my madam (handkerchief) and tied the wedge in small packets and put them into my pockets. At Bishopsgate Street I left my kipsy at a barber’s shop, where I always left it when not in use. I was going through Shoreditch, when a reeler from Hackney, who knew me well, came up and said, “I am going to run the rule over (search) you.” You could have knocked me down with a feather, me knowing what I had about me. Then he said, “It’s only my joke; are you going to treat me?” So I said “Yes,” and began to be very saucy, saying to him, “What catch would it be if you was to turn me over?” So I took him into a pub which had a back way out, and called for a pint of stout, and told the reeler to wait a minute. He did not know that there was an entrance at the back; so I guyed up to Hoxton to the mob and told them all about it. Then I went and done the wedge for five-and-twenty quid.

Un jour je vais à Lewisham et je _grinchis_ un lot de _blanquette_. Je déchire mon _blavin_, je fais des petits _pacsins_ de la _blanquette_ et je les _plaque_ dans mes _profondes_. A Bishopsgate St. je dépose mon panier dans la _boutogue_ d’un _merlan_ où je le laissais toujours quand je ne m’en servais pas. Je traversais Shoreditch, quand un _rousse_ de Hackney, qui me _conobrait_ bien, _aboule_ et _jacte_, “Je vais te _rapioter_.” J’avais la _frousse_ en pensant à ce que j’avais sur mon _gniasse_. Alors il me _bonnit_, “C’est une _batterie douce_; est-ce que tu ne vas pas me _rincer les crochets_?” Je lui _jacte_, “_Gy_,” et je me mets à _blaguer_ avec lui, lui disant, “Quelle bonne prise, si vous me fouilliez?” Je l’emmène alors dans un _cabermon_ qui avait une sortie de derrière, je demande une pinte de stout, et je dis au _rousse_ d’attendre une _broquille_. Il ne _conobrait_ pas la _lourde_ de derrière; alors _je me la tire_ jusqu’à Hoxton et j’apprends aux _fanandes_ ce qui s’était passé. Puis je _fourgue_ la _blanquette_ pour vingt-cinq livres.

One or two days after this I met the reeler at Hackney, and he said, “What made you guy?” So I said that I did not want my pals to see me with him. So he said it was all right. Some of the mob knew him and had greased his duke.

Un ou deux _reluis_ après, je _tombe en frime_ avec la _riflette_ à Hackney, et il me _jacte_, “Pourquoi t’es-tu _débiné_?” Et je lui réponds que je ne voulais pas que mes _fanandes_ me _remouchent_ en sa compagnie. Quelques _pègres_ de la _gance_ le _conobraient_ et lui avaient _foncé_ du _michon_.

What I am about to relate now took place within the last four or five moon before I fell for this stretch and a half. One day I went to Surbiton. I see a reeler giving me a roasting (watching me), so I began to count my pieces for a jolly (pretence), but he still followed me, so at last I rang a bell, and waited till the slavey came, and the reeler waited till I came out, and then said, “What are you hawking of?” So I said, “I am not hawking anything; I am buying bottles.” So he said, “I thought you were hawking without a licence.” As soon as he got round a double, I guyed away to Malden and touched for two wedge teapots, and took the rattler to Waterloo.

Ce que je vais raconter maintenant a eu lieu dans le courant des quatre ou cinq _marques_ avant mon _sapement_ à une _longe_ et demie. Un _reluis_ je vais à Surbiton. Je _remouche_ une _riflette_ qui me _poireautait_. Je fais la _frime_ de compter mon _carle_, mais il me _prend en filature_. A la fin je tire une _retentissante_, et j’attends que la _larbine aboule_, le _rousse_ attend que je _décarre_ et me _jacte_, “Qu’est-ce que vous vendez donc?” Et je réponds, “Je ne vends rien; j’achète des bouteilles.” Il me dit alors, “Je croyais que vous faisiez le commerce sans patente.” Aussitôt qu’il a tourné le coin, je vais à Malden et je _fais_ deux théières de _plâtre_, puis j’_acquige le roulant_ pour Waterloo.

One day I took the rattler from Broad Street to Acton. I did not touch there, but worked my way to Shepherd’s Bush; but when I got there I found it so hot (dangerous), because there had been so many tykes (dogs) poisoned, that there was a reeler at almost every double, and bills posted up about it. So I went to the Uxbridge Road Station, and while I was waiting for the rattler I took a religious tract, and on it was written, “What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” So I thought to myself, What good has the money done me what I have had? So instead of getting out at Brondesbury, I rode on to Broad Street, and paid the difference, and went home, and did not go out for about a week.

Un jour j’_acquige le roulant_ de Broad Street à Acton. _Lago_, je ne _fais_ rien, et je continue ma route jusqu’à Shepherd’s Bush; mais quand j’y _dévale_ je trouve qu’il y avait tant de _pet_ à cause de tous les _tambours_ qu’on avait empoisonnés, qu’on avait mis une _riflette_ presque à chaque coin de rue et des _babilles_ partout. Alors je vais à la station du _roulant_ de Uxbridge Road, et pendant que je _poireautais_ pour le _roulant_ je prends une brochure religieuse et il y avait _capi_ dessus, “A quoi bon acquérir le monde entier si l’on doit perdre son âme?” Et je me _jacte_, A quoi m’a servi le _carme_ que j’ai _affuré_? Et alors au lieu de descendre à Brondesbury, je continue jusqu’à Broad Street et j’_aboule_ la différence. Je _rapplique_ à la _caginotte_ d’où je ne _décarre_ pas d’un _quart de marque_.

The Sunday following when I went to Uxbridge Road, I went down a lane called Mount Pleasant, at Clapton; it was about six o’clock. Down at the bottom of the lane you could get a fine view of Walthamstow; so while I was leaning against the rails I felt very miserable. I was thinking about when I was at Feltham. I thought I had threw away the only chance I had of doing better; and as I stood thinking, the bells of St. Matthew’s Church began to play a hymn-tune I had heard at Feltham. This brought tears to my eyes: this was the first time in my life that I thought what a wretch I was. I was going home very downcast, when I met some pals, who said, “Why, what is the matter? you look miserable.” So I said, “I don’t feel very well.” So they said, “Are you coming to have something to drink?--that will liven you up.” So I went in with them, and began to drink very hard to drown my thoughts.

Le dimanche d’après, en allant à Uxbridge Road, je dégringole une ruelle appellée Mount Pleasant, à Clapton; il était à peu près six _plombes_. Au fond de la ruelle on avait une vue magnifique de Walthamstow; donc pendant que je m’appuyais contre la palissade j’avais _des papillons noirs dans la sorbonne_. Je pensais au temps où j’étais à Feltham. Je voyais que j’avais perdu la seule occasion que j’avais de _rengracier_ et étant là à réfléchir, les _retentissantes_ de la _rampante_ de Saint-Matthew se mirent à jouer un hymne que j’avais entendu à Feltham. Ceci me fit _baver des clignots_: pour la première fois de ma vie je _jacte_ à _mézigue_, Quel misérable tu es! Je _rappliquais à la niche_, en _paumant mes plumes_, quand je _tombe en frime_ de deux _fanandes_ qui _bonnissent_, “Eh bien, qu’est-ce qu’il y a; tu as une _sale bobinette_? “Alors je _jacte_, “Je suis _tocquard_.” “Alors viens avec nous te _rincer la dalle_, ça te ragaillardira.” Je suis allé avec eux, et j’ai commencé à _picter d’attaque_ pour noyer le chagrin.

Monday morning I felt just the same as I always did; I felt ready for the old game again. So I went to Hoxton, and some of the mob said to me, “Why, where have you been the last week or so--we thought you had fell?” So I told them I had been ill.

Le lundi matin d’après, je me suis senti comme d’_habitongue_ et prêt à _rappliquer_ au _turbin_. Je suis allé à Hoxton, et quelques-uns de la _gance_ m’ont _fait la jactance_, “Eh bien, où as-tu été pendant tous ces _reluis_--nous pensions que tu t’étais fait _emballer_?” Je leur réponds que j’avais été _tocquard_.

I went out the next day to Maidenhead, and touched for some wedge and a poge (purse), with over five quid in it.

Le lendemain je suis allé à Maidenhead. J’ai _fait_ de la _blanquette_ et une _filoche_ qui contenait plus de cinq _sigues_.

A little while after this I went with two pals to the Palace at Muswell Hill; the races were on. So when we got there, there was some reelers there what knew me, and my pals said, “You had better get away from here; if we touch you will take your whack (share) just the same.” So I went and laid down on the grass. While laying there I piped a reeler whom I knew; he had a nark (a policeman’s spy) with him. So I went and looked about for my two pals and told them to look out for S. and his nark. About an hour after this they came to me and woke me up, and they said, “Come on, we have had a lucky touch for a half century in pap” (_£_50 in paper, _i.e._ notes). I thought they was only kidding (deceiving) at first, so they said, “Let us guy from here, and you will see if we are kidding to you.” When we got into the rattler they showed me the pap; yes, there it was, fifty quids in double finns (_£_10 notes). We did them for _£_9 10_s._ each to a fence.

Peu après, je suis allé avec deux _fanandels_ à Muswell Hill où il y avait des courses. Quand _nouzailles_ y avons _dévalé_, il y avait des _roussins_ qui me _conobraient_ et mes _fanandes_ me _jactent_, “Tu ferais mieux de te _cavaler_; si nous _rinçons_, tu auras ton _fade_ tout de même.” Alors j’allai me _plaquer_ sur l’herbe. Pendant que j’y étais, je _remouche_ un _rousse_ que je _conobrais_. Il était accompagné d’une _riflette_. Je cherche alors mes deux _fanandes_ et leur dis, “_Acresto_, attention à S. et à sa _riflette_!” Une _plombe_ après, environ, ils _aboulent_ vers _mézigue_, m’éveillent, et me _jactent_, “_Aboule_, nous avons _barboté schpille_, nous avons _acquigé_ cinquante livres en _faffes_.” Je croyais qu’ils me _collaient des vannes_ mais ils me _jactent_, “_Dévalons d’icigo_ et tu verras si nous te _gourrons_.” Quand nous nous sommes _plaqués_ dans le _roulant vif_ ils m’ont montré les _faffes_; _gy_, il y avait bien cinquante _sigues_ en _faffes_ de dix livres. Nous les avons _lavés_ pour _£_9 10_s._ à un _fourgue_.

I took the rattler one day to Reigate and worked my way to Red Hill. So I went into a place and see some clobber hanging up, so I thought to myself, I will have it and take the rattler home at once; it will pay all expense. So while I was looking about I piped a little peter (parcel). When I took it up it had an address on it, and the address was to the vicarage; so I came out and asked a boy who lived there, and he said “Yes,” but to make sure of it I went back again. This time I looked to the clobber more closely, and I see it was the same as clergymen wear, so I left it where it was. I always made it a rule never to rob a clergyman’s house if I knew one to live there. I could have robbed several in my time, but I would not. So I took the rattler to Croydon and touched for some wedge, and come home. I used to go to Henley most every year when the rowing matches was on which used to represent Oxford and Cambridge, only it used to be boys instead of men. The day the Prince of Wales arrived at Portsmouth when he came home from India, me and two pals took the rattler from Waterloo at about half-past six in the morning. When we got to Portsmouth we found it was very hot, there was on every corner of a street bills stuck up, “Beware of pickpockets, male and female,” and on the tramcars as well. So one of my pals said, “There is a reeler over there who knows me, we had better split out” (separate). Me and the other one went by ourselves; he was very tricky (clever) at getting a poge or a toy, but he would not touch toys because we was afraid of being turned over (searched). We done very well at poges; we found after we knocked off we had between sixty or seventy quid to cut up (share), but our other pal had fell, and was kept at the station until the last rattler went to London, and then they sent him home by it. One day after this I asked a screwsman if he would lend me some screws, because I had a place cut and dried. But he said, “If I lend you them I shall want to stand in” (have a share); but I said, “I can’t stand you at that; I will grease your duke, if you like.” But he said, “That would not do;” so I said, “We will work together then;” and he said, “Yes.” So we went and done the place for fifty-five quid. So I worked with him until I fell for this stretch and a half. He was very tricky at making twirls, and used to supply them all with tools. Me and the screwsman went to Gravesend and I found a dead ’un (uninhabited house), and we both went and turned it over and got things out of it which fetched us forty-three quid. We went one day to Erith; I went in a place, and when I opened the door there was a great tyke (dog), laying in front of the door, so I pulled out a piece of pudding (liver prepared to silence dogs) and threw it to him, but he did not move. So I threw a piece more, and it did not take any notice; so I got close up to it, and found it was a dead dog, being stuffed, so I done the place for some wedge and three overcoats; one I put on, and the other two in my kipsy. We went to Harpenden Races to see if we could find some dead ’uns; we went on the course. While we was there we saw a scuff, it was a flat that had been welshed, so my pal said, “Pipe his spark prop” (diamond pin). So my pal said, “Front me (cover me), and I will do him for it.” So he pulled out his madam and done him for it. After we left the course, we found a dead ’un and got a peter (cashbox) with very near a century of quids in it. Then I carried on a nice game, what with the trips and the drink I very near went balmy (mad). It is no use of me telling you every place I done, or else you will think I am telling you the same things over again.