“But while walking towards his own shop a fellow overtook him, patted him on the shoulder, delivered him the parcel unopened, and told him the price was twenty guineas.
“The tradesman paid it to him directly, and returning to Captain Jack’s house begged of him to accept the other ten pounds for his own trouble.
“Jack told him that he had saved him nothing, but he supposed the people considered twenty guineas enough considering that they thought themselves safely from prosecution.
“The tradesman still pressed the ten guineas on Jack, who, after taking them out of his hand, returned him five of them, and assured him,
“‘That was more than enough,’ adding—
“‘It is satisfaction sufficient to an honest man that he is able to procure people their goods again.’
“This was a remarkable instance of the moderation Captain Jack sometimes practised, the better to conceal his villanies.
“Another story is no less extraordinary.
“A lady, whose husband was out of the kingdom, and who had sent over draughts for her assistance to the amount of between £700 and £1,000, lost the pocket book in which they were contained near Fleet Street, where the merchant lived upon whom they were drawn.
“She, however, went to the gentleman, and he advised her to go directly to Captain Jack.