forawhileheworethepinkcoatofColonelCunningham\'spostillion,andpresentlywaspromotedtotheindependenceofahackneycoach.
Thusemployed,hebecameacquaintedwiththefamousCypriansofCoventGarden,who,lovinghimforhishandsomefaceandsprightlygesture,seducedhimtodeserthiscabforaneasierprofession.Solongastheskywasfair,helivedundertheiramiableprotection;butthesummerhavingchasedthesmartergentryfromtown,theladiescouldaffordhimnomorethanwouldpurchaseahorseandapairofpistols,sothatHarrywascompelledtochallengefortuneonthehighroad.Hisfirstjourneywastriumphantlysuccessful.Apost-chaiseandacoupleofcoachesemptiedtheirwealthintohishands,and,ridingforLondon,hewasabletoreturnthefavourslavisheduponhimbyCoventGarden.Atthefirsttouchofgoldhewastransformedtoafinishedblade.Hepurchasedhimselfasilver-hiltedsword,whichhedangledoveradiscreetsuitofblackvelvet;aprodigiousrunofluckatthegaming-tableskepthispursewelllined;andhemadesobrilliantanappearanceinhisfamiliarhauntsthathespeedilygainedthenameof`GentlemanHarry.\'
Butthemoney,lightlywon,waslightlyspent.Thetablestookbackmorethantheygave,andbeforelongSimmswasastridehishorseagain,flourishinghisirons,andcrying:`Standanddeliver\'!uponeveryroadinEngland.
EppingForestwashisgeneralhunting-ground,buthisenterprisetookhimfarafield,andifonenighthegallopedbystarlightacrossBagshotHeath,anotherhewasholdinguptheYorkstagewithunbridledinsolence.Herobbed,heroared,heblusteredwithpraiseworthyindustry;andgoodluckcomingtotheaidofcaution,heescapedforawhilethenecessarypunishmentofhiscrimes.ItwasonStockbridgeDownsthathemethisfirstcheck.
Hehadstoppedachariot,andcameoffwithahatfulofgold,butthevictims,impatientofdisaster,raisedthecounty,andGentlemanHarrywaslaidbytheheels.Neverataloss,hecondescendedtoacringinghypocrisy:hewhined,hewhimpered,hebabbledofreform,hepliedhisprosecutorswithletterssopackedwithpenitence,thattheyabandonedtheircase,andinacoupleofdaysSimmshadeasedacollectoratEverseyBankofthreehundredpounds.Forthisenterprisetwoothersclimbedthegallows,andtherobber\'sprideinhiscapturewasmiserablylessenedbythesheddingofinnocentblood.