Page:Paul Clifford Vol 3.djvu/329

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
PAUL CLIFFORD.
321

Pepper, whom the police did not so anxiously desire to destroy as they did his two companions, might have managed, perhaps many years longer, to graze upon the public commons, had not a letter written somewhat imprudently fallen into wrong hands. This, though after creating a certain stir it apparently died away, lived in the memory of the police, and finally conspired, with various pecdilloes, to produce his downfal. He was seized, tried, and sentenced to seven years transportation. He so advantageously employed his time at Botany Bay, and arranged things there so comfortably to himself, that at the expiration of his sentence, he refused to return home. He made an excellent match, built himself an excellent house, and remained in "the land of the blest," to the end of his days, noted to the last for the redundance of his hair, and a certain ferocious coxcombry of aspect.

As for fighting Attie, and Gentleman George, for Scarlet Jem, and for Old Bags, we confess ourselves destitute of any certain information of their latter ends. We can only add, with regard to fighting Attie—"Good luck be with him wherever