ThusScotlandbecamealandofdread;themostrestlessmanwithinherbordershardlydaretravelbeyondhisbyre.Thelawwaspowerlessagainstthisindomitablescourge,andtherewardofathousandmarkswouldhavebeenofferedinvain,hadnotGilderoy\'scrueltyestrangedhismistress.Thistraitress——PegCunninghamwashername——lessforavaricethaninrevengeformanyinsultsandinfidelities,atlastbetrayedhermaster.
Havingdecoyedhimtoherhouse,sheadmittedfiftyarmedmen,andthusimaginedafullatonementforherunnumberedwrongs.
ButGilderoywastriumphanttothelast.Instantlysuspectingthetreacheryofhismistress,heburstintoherbed-chamber,and,thatshemightnotenjoythepriceofblood,rippedherupwithahanger.Thenheturneddefiantuponthearmyarrayedagainsthim,andkilledeightmenbeforetheotherscapturedhim.
Disarmedafteradesperatestruggle,hewasloadedwithchainsandcarriedtoEdinburgh,wherehewasstarvedforthreedays,andthenhangedwithouttheformalityofatrialonagibbet,thirtyfeethigh,setupintheGrassmarket.EventhenScotland\'svengeancewasunsatisfied.Thebody,cutdownfromitsfirstgibbet,washunginchainsfortyfeetaboveLeithWalk,whereitcreakedandgibberedasawarningtoevildoersforhalfacentury,untilatlasttheinhabitantsofthatrespectablequarterpetitionedthatGilderoy\'sbonesshouldceasetorattle,andthattheyshouldenjoythepeaceimpossibleforhisjinglingskeleton.
Gilderoywasnodrawing-roomscoundrel,novillainofschoolgirlromance.Hefeltremorseaslittleashefeltfear,andtherewasnocrimefromwhosecommissionheshrank.Beforehisdeathheconfessedtothirty-sevenmurders,andbraggedthathehadlongsincelostcountofhisrobberiesandrapes.Somethingmustbeabatedforboastfulness.Butafteralldeductionthereremainsataleofcrimethatisunsurpassed.Hismostadmirablyartisticqualityishiscompleteconsistence.Hewasaruffianfinishedandrotund;hemadenoconcession,hebetrayednoweakness.Thoughheneverpreachedasermonagainstthehumanrace,hepractisedabrutalitywhichmighthaveproceededfromagospelofhate.Hesparedneitherfriendsnorrelatives,andhemurderedhisownmotherwithaslightaheartashesentastrangewidowofAberdeentoherdeath.Hisskillisundoubted,andheprovedbythedisciplineofhisbandthathewasnotwithoutsometalentofgeneralship.Butheowedmuchofhissuccesstohisphysicalstrength,andtothetemperament,whichneverknewthescandalofhesitancyordread.