The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders

I have often wondered even at my own hardiness another way, that when

all my companions were surprised and fell so suddenly into the hand of

justice, and that I so narrowly escaped, yet I could not all this while

enter into one serious resolution to leave off this trade, and

especially considering that I was now very far from being poor; that

the temptation of necessity, which is generally the introduction of all

such wickedness, was now removed; for I had near #500 by me in ready

money, on which I might have lived very well, if I had thought fit to

have retired; but I say, I had not so much as the least inclination to

leave off; no, not so much as I had before when I had but #200

beforehand, and when I had no such frightful examples before my eyes as

these were. From hence 'tis evident to me, that when once we are

hardened in crime, no fear can affect us, no example give us any

warning.

I had indeed one comrade whose fate went very near me for a good while,

though I wore it off too in time. That case was indeed very unhappy.

I had made a prize of a piece of very good damask in a mercer's shop,

and went clear off myself, but had conveyed the piece to this companion

of mine when we went out of the shop, and she went one way and I went

another. We had not been long out of the shop but the mercer missed

his piece of stuff, and sent his messengers, one one way and one

another, and they presently seized her that had the piece, with the

damask upon her. As for me, I had very luckily stepped into a house

where there was a lace chamber, up one pair of stairs, and had the

satisfaction, or the terror indeed, of looking out of the window upon

the noise they made, and seeing the poor creature dragged away in

triumph to the justice, who immediately committed her to Newgate.

I was careful to attempt nothing in the lace chamber, but tumbled their

goods pretty much to spend time; then bought a few yards of edging and

paid for it, and came away very sad-hearted indeed for the poor woman,

who was in tribulation for what I only had stolen.

Here again my old caution stood me in good stead; namely, that though I

often robbed with these people, yet I never let them know who I was, or

where I lodged, nor could they ever find out my lodging, though they

often endeavoured to watch me to it. They all knew me by the name of

Moll Flanders, though even some of them rather believed I was she than

knew me to be so. My name was public among them indeed, but how to

find me out they knew not, nor so much as how to guess at my quarters,

whether they were at the east end of the town or the west; and this

wariness was my safety upon all these occasions.