that she never saw me but once, and that by Candle light, should have ever
discover'd me.
    I was now return'd to London, and tho' by the Accident of the last
Adventure, I got something considerable, yet I was not fond of any more Country
rambles; nor should I have ventur'd Abroad again if I had carried the Trade on
to the End of my Days; I gave my Governess a History of my Travels, she lik'd
the Harwich Journey well enough, and in Discoursing of these things between
ourselves she observ'd, that a Thief being a Creature that Watches the
Advantages of other Peoples mistakes, 'tis impossible but that to one that is
vigilant and industrious many Opportunities must happen, and therefore she
thought that one so exquisitely keen in the Trade as I was, would scarce fail of
something wherever I went.
    On the other hand, every Branch of my Story, if duly consider'd, may be
useful to honest People, and afford a due Caution to People of some sort, or
other, to Guard against the like Surprizes, and to have their Eyes about them
when they have to do with Strangers of any kind, for 'tis very seldom that some
Snare or other is not in their way. The Moral indeed of all my History is left
to be gather'd by the Senses and Judgment of the Reader; I am not Qualified to
preach to them, let the Experience of one Creature compleatly Wicked, and
compleatly Miserable, be a Storehouse of useful warning to those that read.
    I am drawing now towards a new Variety of Life: Upon my return, being
hardened by a long Race of Crime, and Success unparallel'd, I had, as I have
said, no thoughts of laying down a Trade, which if I was to judge by the Example
of others, must however End at last in Misery and Sorrow.
    It was on the Christmas-day following, in the Evening, that to finish a long
Train of Wickedness, I went Abroad to see what might offer in my way; when going
by a Working Silver-Smith's in Foster-lane, I saw a tempting Bait indeed, and
not to be resisted by one of my Occupation; for the Shop had no Body in it, and
a great deal of loose Plate lay in the Window, and at the Seat of the Man, who I
suppose Work'd at one side of the Shop.
    I went boldly in and was just going to lay my Hand upon a peice of Plate