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本书版权归Packt Publishing所有
The Cloud Computing Journey

Design and deploy resilient and secure multi-cloud systems

with practical guidance

Divit Gupta

BIRMINGHAM—MUMBAI
The Cloud Computing Journey
Copyright © 2023 Packt Publishing
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case
of brief quotations embedded in critical articles or reviews.
Every effort has been made in the preparation of this book to ensure the accuracy of the information
presented. However, the information contained in this book is sold without warranty, either express
or implied. Neither the author, nor Packt Publishing or its dealers and distributors, will be held liable
for any damages caused or alleged to have been caused directly or indirectly by this book.
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guarantee the accuracy of this information.

Group Product Manager: Niranjan Naikwadi

Publishing Product Manager: Surbhi Suman
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 To my mother, Shashi Gupta, and the memory of my father, Pritipal Gupta, for their
sacrifices and for exemplifying the power of determination. To my sons, Yash and Darsh,
who made me understand true love.
– Divit Gupta
 Foreword
It is both an honor and a pleasure to contribute a foreword to this remarkable technical book penned
by my esteemed colleague, Divit. Having had the privilege of working alongside Divit during our tenure
at Oracle and being a guest on his insightful podcast show, I can attest to the depth of his expertise,
the breadth of his vision, and the unwavering passion he brings to the IT industry.
Divit’s unique ability to seamlessly integrate his profound knowledge of the IT landscape with a keen
understanding of optimizing narratives for search reflects his commitment to delivering excellence.
This book stands as a testament to his insatiable thirst for data, experimentation, and the relentless
pursuit of knowledge – an endeavor that has undoubtedly enriched the technological discourse.
Throughout our shared experiences, I have witnessed Divit’s exceptional leadership qualities firsthand.
He not only possesses impressive technical acumen but also embodies the attributes of a visionary
leader. Divit’s capacity to absorb diverse ideas, coupled with his decisiveness in making bold and
strategic choices, sets him apart. In the complex realm of Oracle, he serves as a results-oriented
architect, leading by example and demonstrating an unparalleled dedication to overcoming challenges.
As you delve into the pages of this book, guided by Divit’s expertise, I encourage you to absorb the
wealth of knowledge and insights he imparts. It is a journey led by a seasoned professional who not
only understands the intricate nuances of our dynamic industry but is also committed to sharing that
understanding for the benefit of all. May this book be a beacon of enlightenment and inspiration for
technologists, architects, and enthusiasts alike.

Rohit Rahi
Vice president of Customer Success Services, Oracle America
 Contributors

About the author

Divit Gupta, a seasoned IT professional with 20 years of industry expertise, excels in driving strategic
architecture initiatives and providing leadership in multi-pillar sales cycles. With a global impact,
he spearheads technical partnerships, defines team vision, and champions new strategic endeavors.
As the host of popular podcasts such as Tech Talk with Divit, Live Labs with Divit, and Cloud Bites with
Divit, he showcases technological initiatives and leadership. In 2022–2023, he served as Oracle TV’s
correspondent for CloudWorld. A recognized expert, Divit presented on Oracle database technology
at Oracle CloudWorld FY 2023.
His passion for knowledge sharing extends to international conference talks, technical blogs, and
multiple books on emerging technologies. Divit has been featured in several prominent newspapers
and technology magazines worldwide. Holding over 40 certifications from Microsoft, Oracle, AWS,
and Databricks, he remains at the forefront of technology.

I want to thank my friends and family who have been close to me and supported me.
About the reviewers
Anushree Srivastava is a customer engineer at Google USA. She is a data and analytics architect with
15+ years of experience in designing and implementing data-driven solutions for a wide range of
industries, including digital advertising, transportation management, banking, life sciences, insurance,
and healthcare.
She has a proven track record of success in data platform modernization, data integration, and cloud
analytics. She has expertise in Google Cloud Platform, Informatica PowerCenter, Oracle, Teradata,
Salesforce.com, SAP HANA, BusinessObjects, and OBIEE.
As well as the aforementioned, she is skilled in data analysis, data modeling, and ETL development.
She is also experienced in managing and delivering complex data projects on time and within budget.
Anushree is passionate about using data to solve real-world problems and improve business outcomes.
She has strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with both
technical and non-technical audiences.

Venkata Ravi Kumar Yenugula is an Extraordinary Ability (EB1-A) Einstein Visa recipient from
the United States, an Oracle Certified Master, a co-author, and a technical reviewer. He is TOGAF-
certified, has published 100+ technical articles, and is an Oracle Open/cloud speaker (x3). He is an
IEEE Senior Member with 26+ years of multinational leadership experience in the United States,
Seychelles, and India in Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) verticals.
Venkata has co-authored four books – Oracle Database Upgrade and Migration Methods; Oracle High
Availability, Disaster Recovery, and Cloud Services; Oracle GoldenGate with MicroServices; and Oracle
Global Data Services for Mission-Critical Systems
He was the technical reviewer of four books – Oracle 19c AutoUpgrade Best Practices, Oracle Autonomous
Database in Enterprise Architecture, End-to-End Observability with Grafana, and Maximum Availability
Architecture (MAA) with Oracle GoldenGate MicroServices in HUB Architecture.
He is an Oracle Certified Professional (OCP) in Oracle 8i, 9i, 10g, 11g, 12c, and 19c, and he is also
an Oracle Certified Expert (OCE) in Oracle GoldenGate, RAC, Performance Tuning, Oracle Cloud
Infrastructure, Terraform, and Oracle Engineered Systems (Exadata, ZDLRA, and ODA), as well as
being Oracle Security- and Maximum Availability Architecture (MAA)-certified.
He has published over 100 Oracle technology articles, including on Oracle Technology Network
(OTN), in ORAWORLD Magazine, on UKOUG, in OTech Magazine, and on Redgate. He has spoken
three times at Oracle Open World (OOW) in Las Vegas/San Francisco, US.
Oracle Corporation has published his profile on their OCM list and in their Spotlight on Success stories.
 Table of Contents
Preface xiii

Part 1: Fundamentals and Components of

the Cloud
1
Fundamentals of Cloud Architecture 3
Technical requirements 4 Understanding cloud architecture 8
The history of cloud computing 4 The benefits of cloud architecture 13
Cloud computing today 5 Cloud architecture best practices 16

The future of cloud architecture 20

Summary 21

2
Components of a Cloud Infrastructure 23
Technical requirements 24 Compliance and governance 37
Essential cloud infrastructure Overview of virtualization
components 24 and containerization 39
Physical data centers 26 Virtualization in cloud computing 40
Virtualization and hypervisors 26 Containerization in cloud computing 43
Networking 28 Benefits and use cases of virtualization
Storage 29 and containerization 45
Security 32 Understanding the difference between
Management and orchestration 33 virtualization and containerization 48
Monitoring and analytics 34
Summary 51
Disaster recovery and backup 36
viii Table of Contents

Part 2: Compute, Storage, and Networking

3
Compute  55
Technical requirements 56 Containers 65
Introduction to compute and storage Serverless computing 71
in cloud computing 56 Summary 80
Virtual machines (VMs) 57

4
Storage  81
Technical requirements 82 Object storage 91
Introduction to storage in cloud Google Cloud Storage 95
computing 82 Azure Blob Storage 97
Integration with Azure services 99
Exploring storage options in cloud
computing 83 Considerations and cost optimization
Block storage 84 strategies for compute and storage 101
File storage 86 Summary 105

5
Networking  107
Technical requirements 108 Load balancing 125
Introduction to networks in cloud CDNs 128
computing 109 Considerations and cost optimization
Exploring network options in strategies for networks 132
cloud computing 111 Network security 133
VPCs 111 Performance optimization 134
VPN 117 Cost optimization 136
Subnetting and IP addressing 121
Summary 138
 Table of Contents ix

Part 3: Security, Compliance, and Databases

6
Security and Compliance 1 – Cloud Perspective 141
Technical requirements 142 DoS attacks 149
Introduction to security in cloud Shared technology vulnerabilities 152
computing 143 Cloud security tools and technologies153
Understanding cloud security risks 143 IAM 154
Data breaches 143 Encryption and data protection 158
Insider threats 144 Firewalls and network security 161
Data loss and recovery 146 IDS/IPS 164
Insecure APIs 147
Summary 167

7
Security and Compliance 2 – Cloud Perspective 169
Technical requirements 170 Managing cloud security at scale 184
Compliance and legal considerations 170 Evolving threat landscape 187
AWS Artifact 172 Cloud security best practices 190
Azure Compliance Manager 173 Summary 194
IR and cloud forensics 176
Tools and services for IR and cloud forensics 177

8
Database Services - Part 1 195
Technical requirements 196 Data warehousing services in
Overview of database services in the cloud 212
the cloud 196 Setting up Amazon Redshift 214
Types of databases – relational Setting up Google BigQuery 215
and NoSQL 199
Setting up OCI 211
x Table of Contents

Databases beyond the Key-value store 223

traditional realm 217 Time-series database 225
Document database 217 Converged database 226
In-memory database 218 Wide-column store 227
Graph database 220
Summary 229
Columnar database 222

9
Database Services - Part 2 231
Data modeling and schema design 232 Database security best practices 247
Conceptual data model 233 Access control 247
Physical data model 234 Popular tools and methods for access control 248
Normalization 236 Encryption 250
Denormalization 237 Auditing and monitoring 253
Benefits of data modeling and schema design 238 Least-privilege principle 255
Secure configuration 257
Database provisioning
Regular backups 258
and configuration 240
Data masking and redaction 260
Database provisioning 240
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) 262
Database configuration 241
Benefits of effective provisioning Database high-availability and
and configuration 241 scalability features 264
Example of database provisioning in the High availability 264
cloud – e-commerce platform 242 Scalability 269
Example of database provisioning in the
cloud – healthcare patient management 243 Database performance optimization 271
Example of database provisioning in the Summary 274
cloud – e-learning platform 244

Part 4: Monitoring, Backup, and Restore

10
Monitoring and Management 279
Technical requirements 280 Cloud provider tools 284
Real-time monitoring and alerts 280 Alibaba Cloud CloudMonitor
(Alibaba Cloud) 295
Proactive alerting 282
 Table of Contents xi

Best practices 297 Updates and patching 307

Automated scaling and Summary 313
resource management 299

11
Backup and Restore Mechanisms 315
Data backup strategies 316 Cloud-native backup solutions 325
Full backups 316 Retention policies 327
Incremental backups 317
Regulatory compliance 327
Differential backups 319
Business continuity 329
Synthetic full backups 320
Mirror backups 321 DR planning 346
Continuous data protection  322 Summary 365
Snapshot backups 324

12
Backup and Restore Procedures 367
Technical requirements 367 AWS Backup integration 372
Backup and restore procedures 368 Microsoft Azure 373
Google Cloud Platform (GCP) 380
Amazon Web Services (AWS) 369
AWS CLI command 370 Summary 398

Index 399

Other Books You May Enjoy 418

 Preface
This book provides an overview of cloud technology, covering everything from the basics to the more
advanced concepts and allowing you to design and build cloud systems that can stand the test of time
through practical examples and information on the latest trends.
This book helps to solve the problem of a lack of expertise in cloud computing by providing a
comprehensive guide to cloud architecture and best practices for using different vendors and tools. It
also covers security and compliance considerations and provides guidance on how to design and build
scalable and resilient cloud systems. This can help businesses avoid costly mistakes, ensure their cloud
systems are secure and compliant, and build cloud systems that can adapt and grow with their business.
By the end of this book, you will have an understanding of how to leverage different vendors and
tools to build robust and secure cloud systems. This knowledge can help businesses and professionals
leverage the power of cloud computing to achieve their goals more efficiently and effectively.

Who this book is for

The book is targeted at anyone who is interested in understanding cloud technology, including business
leaders and IT professionals who want to learn about the benefits, challenges, and best practices of
cloud computing. It will be useful for those who are just starting to explore cloud technology, as
well as those who are already using cloud technology but want to deepen their understanding and
optimize their usage.
Overall, the book is ideal for anyone looking to build and manage robust and secure cloud systems
efficiently and effectively.

What this book covers

Chapter 1, Fundamentals of Cloud Architecture, discusses the history, present state, and future of cloud
computing architecture. This chapter delves into the origins of cloud computing, tracing its roots from
time-sharing to the commercialization of services.
We will then explore the pervasive influence of cloud computing today, discussing its models, benefits,
challenges, and real-world implementations. Understanding cloud architecture becomes the focal point
as we unravel the components, deployment models, and key concepts such as virtualization and load
balancing. Finally, we will turn our attention to the future, exploring emerging trends such as edge
computing, serverless computing, and quantum computing, while contemplating the challenges and
opportunities that lie ahead.
xiv Preface

Chapter 2, Components of a Cloud Infrastructure, begins by exploring the foundation of a cloud

infrastructure, which includes physical data centers, networking, and storage systems. It discusses the
importance of server virtualization and hypervisors in enabling the efficient utilization of computing
resources. The chapter then delves into the concept of virtual networks and their role in facilitating
communication between different components of the cloud infrastructure. It also explores storage
technologies such as block, file, and object storage. Additionally, the chapter discusses the importance
of load balancers, firewalls, and security mechanisms in ensuring the integrity and protection of the
cloud infrastructure.
Chapter 3, Compute, provides a comprehensive exploration of the essential components and concepts
related to compute and storage in cloud computing. The chapter delves into the various compute options
available in cloud computing. It covers the concept of Virtual Machines (VMs), which allow users
to create and run multiple instances of operating systems on a single physical server. The advantages
of VMs, such as resource isolation and scalability, are discussed in detail. Additionally, this chapter
explores the concept of serverless computing, where users can run their applications without needing
to manage the underlying infrastructure.
Chapter 4, Storage, provides a comprehensive exploration of the essential components and concepts
related to storage in cloud services. This chapter introduces you to the fundamental role of storage
solutions in cloud computing. It covers a range of cloud storage types, including object storage, file
storage, block storage, and hybrid storage, discussing their unique characteristics and use cases.
This chapter also discusses essential considerations for selecting and managing cloud storage, such
as security measures, performance factors, data transfer and migration strategies, data durability,
availability, and scalability.
Chapter 5, Networking, presents a comprehensive exploration of networking’s vital role in cloud
environments. The introduction lays the groundwork by explaining the significance of networking
in facilitating seamless communication and data transfer among cloud resources. This chapter covers
various networking types, including Virtual Private Cloud (VPC), subnetting, load balancing, Content
Delivery Networks (CDNs), and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), providing insights into their
functionalities and benefits.
Chapter 6, Security and Compliance 1 – Cloud Perspective, delves into the best practices for cloud security,
offering you a comprehensive toolkit to strengthen their defenses. Encryption, a fundamental pillar
of data protection, will be explored in depth, and we will examine its role in safeguarding sensitive
information from unauthorized access. Additionally, you will discover the significance of identity
and access management (IAM), secure API usage, network security, and secure coding practices for
cloud-native applications.
Chapter 7, Security and Compliance 2 – Cloud Perspective, is the second part of the previous chapter.
In this chapter, you will explore critical aspects of security in cloud computing, gaining insights into
compliance and legal considerations, cloud security best practices, incident response, cloud forensics,
managing cloud security at scale, and the evolving threat landscape.
 Another Random Document on
Scribd Without Any Related Topics
wound up by saying, “Everybody saw how it would end. She couldn’t
stand his cruelty any longer, and, therefore, left him. It’s the wisest
thing she ever did.”
“And Bessie?”
“Oh! she went with her.”
“Do you know where they’ve gone to?”
The man shook his head.
“Not I,” said he. “It is not likely they would let anybody know
that; but I’ve been told——”
“What?”
“That they are both gone abroad—​to America or Australia—​so I’ve
been given to understand.”
Peace was perfectly astounded.
“Gone abroad?” he iterated.
“Well—​yes; and the best thing they could do. They are both
young and good-looking, and will do a great deal better in either of
those places than they did in this over-taxed country. Working
people have not much of a chance here.”
The speaker was a Radical of the most pronounced type, and
attributed the greater part of the ills which afflict the working class
to over-taxation and an oppressive aristocracy.
Peace was in no mood to discuss the question—​he was too much
overwhelmed by the account given by the landlord of the women’s
sudden flight.
“I shouldn’t bother myself much about them, if I were you,
Peace,” said the landlord. “It’s all for the best, depend upon that.
They behaved fair and square to me, and I wish them both well.”
 “Yes—​right you are—​I won’t bother myself. They are gone, and
joy go with them. Thank you for the information.”
And wishing the man a hearty farewell, he took his departure.
He visited some of his old haunts in the town, and lodged for the
night at a coffee-house.
In the morning he returned to Sheffield.
He was ill at ease—​restless and fidgetty—​everything appeared to
be going wrong with him.
Though apparently pursuing at this time the vocation of a picture-
frame maker and picture-dealer, he had, as we have already seen,
made “overtime” at intervals with varying success. The illustrations
which have been given of his career have in many instances shown
that he obtained most valuable booty. But the number of occasions
on which he failed in his depredations are not so well known; the
reader, however, may rest assured that it was not all smooth sailing
with him. He had, as it will be our purpose to show, a number of
reverses and many narrow escapes.
The course which he generally pursued was to “prospect a district
well” and make himself thoroughly acquainted with the general
movements of the police in it.
Next to pick out the places which offered at once the chance of a
good haul, with the least possible risk, and having done this, gather
in the harvest with as little delay as possible and then disappear
from the district.
No wonder the police were baffled.
On the night prior to his leaving Sheffield, Peace had an
adventure, which at the time taxed his inventive genius.
He had obtained an entrance to the back premises of a fish shop
which was situated at the back of the Cemetery-road. This would be
between eleven and twelve o’clock at night.
He was “operating” upon the back window of the place, intending
as usual to “borrow” something, when very unexpectedly the
proprietor of the establishment returned from the theatre in a cab.
Peace heard the vehicle stop and before he had time to get out of
the yard the proprietor came into it.
Seeing Peace, he said—
“What do you want here?”
The visitor, after the manner of many other people, said “oh
nothing!”
The fishmonger was far from satisfied, and made a demonstration
as though he was about to seize the little fellow.
But Peace had used every bit of the time available during the brief
conversation, for the consideration of the best means of escape, and
he had formed a loophole.
Jumping upon the boundary wall he dropped over, and fell a
considerable depth into the river Porter, which flows past there, but
is shallow at that point. In point of fact it is like a large weir. He did
not move in the darkness, but kept close to the wall, so that the
astonished fishmonger should not know whether he had gone down
the stream or up it.
Afterwards he quickly walked up it, past the back of Napier-street,
and came out above Andrew-lane, but not without a good soaking.
Had he succeeded in his attempt to break into the shop he would
not have got much, as the proprietor had placed his cash in a place
of safety.
This is one of the many faithful accounts of his various
escapades; but the reader must be apprised that it occurred
subsequently to the events we are now chronicling in this and the
preceding chapters. It is cited as an instance of our of his many
failures. We have, however, to record one which was more
ignominious and disastrous.
Peace remained in Sheffield for some little time after his return
from Bradford. He paid several visits to localities which lay at more
or less distances from that town, and succeeded in possessing
himself of a number of valuables, but he felt unhinged and grew
tired of his native town.
Once more he paid a visit to Hull. The Oakfield House burglary,
described in the opening chapters of our work was no longer fresh in
the recollection of the inhabitants of that town, and Peace felt quite
sure that he would not be recognised by any of the constabulary.
The love of change and adventure had most likely prompted him
to shift his quarters for awhile, and transfer the scene of his
operations to another locality.
Soon after his arrival in Hull he began to look out for the places
most available for his purpose, and contrived to commit some daring
robberies without detection.
He had noticed a small villa which stood on the outskirts of a
village, a few miles from Hull. The house was far removed from
other habitations.
It was very tempting, not to say inviting, to the burglar.
Peace had played his violin at a beershop in the neighbourhood—​
that is how he came to notice the Gothic cottage, as it was termed.
To obtain an entrance would be matter of no great difficulty. Most
of the inhabitants in the neighbourhood went to bed early, and rose
with the lark.
It was between ten and eleven o’clock at night when Peace
arrived at the villa in question.
 A flight of steps led up to the front door. A bay window, with
stone balustrading in front and a portico above, jutted out from the
first storey of the habitation.
When Peace had reached the lawn in front of the house, he
hesitated for a short time, before he made up his mind as to which
was the easiest mode of access.
He came to the conclusion that it would be best to perform on the
door. He had but little difficulty in picking the look of this. The door
yielded to his pressure, but he found that it was fastened by an
inner chain, the end of which ran into a hollow tube.
It was impossible to effect an entrance without releasing the
chain.
Peace drew from his pocket two pieces of wire, both of which
were bent at the ends.
With these he believed he could push back the chain, release it,
and enter.
While occupied with one arm through the aperture disclosed by
the partially open door, the two French windows above were thrown
open, and a woman’s head and shoulders were visible.
Peace, whose back was towards the window, was quite unaware
of the fact that his movements were watched.
Indeed, so intent was he on his work that he did not hear the
noise occasioned by the opening of the window.
He was not so successful as he had anticipated in pushing back
the chain; and while manipulating with his accustomed skill and
perseverance he was suddenly awakened to the position of affairs by
receiving a terrible blow between the shoulders, which seemed to
take his breath away.
 He faced round suddenly, when much to his discomforture he
received another blow on the side of the head, which caused a
thousand lights to flash before his eyes.
“Oh, you nasty burglarious wretch,” exclaimed the old woman
above, who was his assailant. “You murderous villain!”
The speaker was flourishing a long house broom, with the thick
end of which she delivered another blow on the burglar’s head.
Peace was quite unprepared for this unlooked-for assault; he
caught hold of the broom and swore a terrible oath.
A struggle now ensued between the two, Peace held firmly on the
end of the broom, and the old woman above clung tenaciously to
the handle.
“Murder! thieves! police! help!” screamed the woman, in a shrill
penetrating voice, which rang like a clarion note in the night air.
“You nasty, ugly, good-for-nothing, thieving scamp!” she
continued. “You hideous, murderous wretch!”
Peace was terribly bruised; a noise as of rushing waters was in his
ears, and his temples throbbed and ached most terribly.
By a violent effort he wrested the broom from the hands of his
assailant.
He was wound up to a state of fury, and lost his usual prudence.
To be so unmercifully beaten by a woman was positively
intolerable.
In all his adventures he had never been so cruelly used.
But he would not be baffled—​he would have reprisals.
He jumped on to the top of the stone facing of the balustrade
which ran in front of the house, and, broom in hand, struck a defiant
attitude.
“Don’t you think to master me, you vile, dirty slut,” he ejaculated;
and, with these words, he aimed a blow at his enemy, who very
prudently retired into the interior of the room.
The only effect the blow had was to smash one of the front
windows.
“If I can only get in,” muttered Peace, “I shall be all right. I’ll soon
silence that old Jezebel. Without doubt she has been left in charge
of the house. I’ll give it her, worth her money, when I do get in.
Curse it, how my head aches!”
He balanced himself on the top of the stonework, as deftly as ah
acrobat; then he caught the edge of the balcony with the big end of
his broom, and was preparing himself for a final spring when
another actor came upon the scene.
A buxom servant girl appeared at the open window. She was
armed with a mop.
Seeing that Peace was about to scale the balcony, she threw out
the mop much the same as a Zulu does his spear, and delivered such
a terrific blow on Peace’s face that he was hurled back, and fell upon
the gravel path in front in a state of insensibility.
The old woman and her maid were masters of the field. Their foe
remained prostrate and helpless in front of the citadel.
Again the cries “Help! Police!” rose in the air. They resounded far
and near.
The servant girl now brought to the window a pail of dirty water,
which she threw over the vanquished burglar.
This bad the effect of restoring him to consciousness. He made
an effort to rise, but he was so dizzy, so utterly prostrated, that he
was almost helpless for a time.
 The mistress and her maid had the prudence not to sally forth till
assistance had arrived, for they were by no means certain as to the
real state of the enemy. He might, after all, only be shamming, and
it would not be advisable to risk an engagement in the open field.
They had recourse, therefore, to “sound the alarm,” by repeated
screams and cries for assistance.
Much to their delight, a constable opened the garden gate, and
flashed his bull’s-eye in all directions.
By the light of his lantern he discovered Peace stretched on the
garden walk.
“Now, then, get up, man,” said the constable to Peace.
“I can’t,” exclaimed the burglar. “I’m all but killed by those she
dragons.”
“You can’t lie here all night. Get up, I say. What have you been
doing?”
“Oh, don’t ask me,” said Peace, in a whining hypocritical voice.
“Those infamous women!”
“Don’t listen to what he says, policeman,” interrupted the old lady.
“He was breaking into the house, but we caught him just in time—​
only just in time.”
“Do you charge him?”
“Certainly. Take him in custody. Of course I charge him—​the dirty
blackguard!”
Another constable now presented himself, and the two carried
Peace into the back parlour of the little cottage.
He presented a most pitiable appearance. Two great bumps as
big as an egg were visible on his head; in addition to this his nose
was bleeding, and a scar was observable on his face; this last being
from the effects of the mop which had been handled so dexterously
by the servant girl.
He was, moreover, wet to the skin, from the contents of the pail.
He had never been so cruelly dealt with before.
With his head between his hands, he groaned and moaned in a
most piteous and abject manner.
“You’ve got the worst of it this time, old man,” said one of the
policemen. “Are you sufficiently strong to walk to the station?”
“Me strong! I feel as if about to breathe my last,” cried Peace.
The two constables conversed apart for a little time—​then one left
the house. He returned with a pony-cart.
“Now, then,” said the other, addressing himself to Peace, “as you
are not able to walk, my man, we’ve got a conveyance for you.”
“I’m very bad,” said our hero, with a groan.
“Can’t help that. Get up, man.”
The two policemen, without more ado, lifted up the wounded
burglar, and bore him nolens volens towards the cart, which stood
just outside the garden gate.
Peace was lifted into this by his captors, and the vehicle was
driven towards the station. During the journey Peace whined and
moaned in a most piteous manner, declaring all the way that he was
an ill-used man.
After being examined and attended to by the divisional surgeon,
he was locked up for the remainder of the night.
 CHAPTER XVI.

THE EXAMINATION AT THE POLICE COURT.

Peace had been placed in a tolerably comfortable bed; his clothes

were dried and brought into his room by early dawn. He was
requested to get up; and, when dressed, was conducted to one of
the cells adjoining the court, there to await his turn for examination.
He found, upon entering the cell in question, that it contained
another occupant besides himself.
His companion in misfortune was a tall, slim young man,
apparently twenty or thereabouts. In appearance he was what some
persons would call genteel; certainly there did not appear to be
anything of the ruffian about him.
Peace regarded him with a searching glance, but did not offer any
observation.
To say the truth, he was miserably depressed. Every bone in his
body ached, his temples still throbbed, and the bumps on his head
were as sore and troublesome as they well could be.
Presently the young man—​whose name was Green—​addressed
Peace.
“What are you up for?” said Mr. Green. This being a slang
expression for “What are you charged with?”
 “I don’t know at present,” answered Peace, sulkily. “What are you
up for?”
“Slinging my book”—​a professional term for picking pockets—​“but
I’m as innocent as the babe unborn,” added Mr. Green.
“Oh, of course,” returned Peace; “so am I.”
Mr. Green whistled and looked up at the roof of the cell.
“You just mind your own business,” said our hero, “and speak
only when you’re spoken to.”
“All right, mate,” returned Mr. Green, “there’s no occasion to be
humpy with a fellow—​but there, I’ve done.”
Leaving the culprits in their narrow prison house we will enter the
court. The bench of magistrates have taken their places, the night
charges are as yet not over. There were the usual amount of
drunken cases, assaults upon women, and others of an unimportant
nature. The last assault case is being heard; two men were in the
dock with bruised faces and torn garments, with unkempt hair and
unshaven beards; taken altogether their appearance could not be
considered prepossessing.
A tall, well-dressed gentleman was in the box giving his evidence.
He had a long, aquiline nose, the skin of which had evidently been
damaged some few hours before.
He told his story in a quiet, undemonstrative manner. It appeared,
according to his statement, that, as he was turning the corner of a
street in the neighbourhood, two men suddenly sprang upon him
and tripped him up.
He fell upon his face, and his nose was seriously injured. Being
under the impression that the men were bent upon committing a
robbery he shouted out lustily for the police. A constable came and
he gave his two assailants in charge.
 “And do you believe that they intended to rob you?” inquired the
stipendiary.
“I certainly was under the impression at the time that they were
about to do so, but I should be sorry to say so now after what I’ve
heard. They committed an assault; the effects of their violence I feel
now.”
“Did they strike you?”
“No, I don’t think either of them did, but they sprang upon me.”
“Did you see them before the assault?”
“No, sir. They appeared to spring suddenly out of a narrow
passage. The attack was so sudden that I am unable to say with
anything like exactness where they came from.”
“What have you to say to this charge?” inquired the magistrate of
the prisoners.
“Please, yer honour, it’s all a mistake,” said one of the culprits.
“Quite a mistake, I assure you. Nobody ever thought of hurting the
gentleman in any way. I’m very sorry for what has occurred, and
humbly beg his pardon, yer worship.”
“That’s no answer to the charge. After violently assaulting a
passenger in the street in the manner you have done, it is but a
poor satisfaction to the injured party to beg his pardon.”
“Well, gentlemen, I’ll tell yer how it happened if so be as ye’ll
listen to me.”
“I’m all attention. Proceed.”
“It happened in this ’ere way. I was a walking down King-street
last night when I seed this ’ere man—​his fellow prisoner—​he says to
me, says he, ‘Do yer want any o’ this?’ and with that he up with his
fists, and put himself in a boxing attitude. Well, yer honour, saving
yer honour’s presence, I warn’t a goin’ to be put upon like that, and
so I says to him, ‘You aint the man to give it me.’ ‘Aint I?’ says he.
‘No, ye’re not,’ says I. Well, gentlemen, them words were ’ardly out
o’ my mouth, when he gave me a dab in the eye.”
“And you retaliated, I suppose.”
“I landed him one on the nose. With that he strikes out, and lets
me have it on the jaw. Seeing as how he was a little too long in the
reach for me, I closed with him, and we were a strugglin’ and a
strugglin’ like anything. He forced me down a narrow passage, and
tried to bump my head agen the wall of the court, not this court, yer
honour, but the court or passage as runs out of King-street. Well,
arter that I gets one of my feet agen the railing, and I shoves him
out of the court with all my might. Just at that time, yer honour, the
gentleman was a passin’, and we both on us run full butt agen him,
but it warn’t no fault o’ mine, indeed it warn’t.”
The man had told his story in such a naive manner that roars of
laughter proceeded from the body of the court, in which the bench
joined.
“Do you know this man? Your fellow-prisoner, I mean,” inquired
the stipendiary.
“No, yer worship. I never set eyes upon him afore he sed ‘do you
want anything of this?’”
“What have you to say to the charge?” said the examining
magistrate, addressing the other prisoner.
“I’m very sorry, gentlemen,” returned the man. “What he’s sed is
all true enough. We were having a mill, and the gentleman ’appened
to be coming by, and that’s how it was. I’ve never been in trouble
afore, gentlemen.”
“What are you? What’s your occupation?”
“I’m a groom, yer worship.”
 “You are a pair of silly troublesome fellows, and ought to be
heartily ashamed of your conduct. It seems hardly possible that two
men, who are perfect strangers to one another, and who, moreover,
had no quarrel or dispute to settle, should break the peace in the
foolish and ridiculous manner you have done. You really deserve to
be imprisoned. However, as the gentleman whom you have
assaulted does not wish to press the charge, we shall discharge you
upon the payment of a fine of ten shillings each.”
Upon this the men were removed.
It appeared afterwards that they were unable to pay the fines,
only being able to master up twelve shillings between them.
The gentleman, however, generously made up the difference.
This case concluded the night charges.
Mr. Green was now brought into court.
His countenance was the very personification of simplicity and
injured innocence. He made a most respectful obeisance to the
magistrates, and looked benignly at the spectators.
Mr. Green had the misfortune to be charged with picking pockets.
It was said that he was “a snapper-up of unconsidered trifles,” but
his appearance belied the accusation.
The charge was read over, and the usual formalities gone
through. The prosecutor was then put in the witness-box and sworn.
He stated that a crowd was collected in consequence of an
accident in the street. A horse had run away; the wheel of the chaise
he was dragging came into collision with a lamp-post, the chaise was
overturned, its occupants precipitated into the roadway, and picked
up in a senseless condition; the shafts were broken short off, and
with these the horse galloped off.
 The prosecutor was looking at the broken vehicle in the road
when he felt a tug at his watch, and saw it fall against his waistcoat.
Turning round he seized Mr. Green by the collar, and promptly
charged him with the theft, upon which the young gentleman burst
into a flood of tears, and pityfully exclaimed two or three times—
“Oh, my poor dear mamma!”
So ingenuous indeed was Mr. Green’s manner that his fervent
protestations of innocence would in all probability have had their
effect upon the prosecutor had not the watch itself—​such was the
cruel irony of fate—​been seen at the very moment to drop from his
hand.
The case was, therefore, very black against Mr. Green.
The prosecutor, however, seemed to give his evidence with
reluctance, being under the impression that it was the youth’s first
offence.
“What have you to say to this charge?” inquired the magistrate.
“I hope you will be merciful to me,” said Mr. Green. “I’ll tell you
the truth, sir. I’ve been led away by bad company day after day, and
that’s what’s brought me to this—​it has indeed, sir. I trust you will
have mercy on me as this is my first offence, and I’ll take good care
it shall be my last, for I would not let my father and mother know,
for this would break their hearts, and get me a bad name. I hope
you will have the case settled here to-day, as I have been waiting a
week, for I did not have nothing to do with the watch; but I leave it
to you, sir, to determine. Only I am anxious that my dear father and
mother should know nothing of the dreadful charge.”
“It is quite impossible for any rational person to believe in your
innocence after the evidence that has been offered,” said the
magistrate. “Still you are young, and may have been led into crime
through bad associates, but that is no excuse.”
 “Oh, do have pity on me!” exclaimed Mr. Green. “I’ll tell you the
honest truth.”
The story which Mr. Green, to use a forensic phrase, invited the
bench to believe, did great credit to his ingenuity, but there were
other ugly facts brought forward which went far towards prejudicing
him in the eyes of all present.
Mr. Green said in continuation:
“I came to Hull a short time since upon a little matter of business.
In the train I met a young man who invited me to his house. When
the train got to the station all the people got out, so did me and the
young man. Soon after our arrival in the town we seed a crowd of
persons in the street. The young man sed to me, ‘Here, I’ll get this
gentleman’s clock,’ and he went up to this gentleman (pointing to
the prosecutor) and pulled it out. He wanted to give it to me, but I
would not take it, and the gentleman caught hold of me. This is how
I got into this. But he (alluding to the prosecutor) did not get the
right one, though I was with him. Gentlemen, have mercy on me do,
for I am guilty of being with that young man who got away, but who
ought to be here instead of me.”
The policeman who took the prisoner into custody, and was on
the spot at the time of the robbery, was put in the box, and swore
distinctly that he saw the watch drop out of Mr. Green’s hand.
“Oh, Mr. Policeman!” exclaimed the young gentleman, “how can
you say such a thing?” Then, turning to the magistrates, he said, “It
was a young man by me, gentlemen, and he ses to me, he ses,
‘Hold this ere,’ and he shoves the watch into my hand, an’ with that
the constable he catches ’old of me and ses, ses he——”
“You must ask the witness what he said.”
“Thank you, sir, I will,” returned Mr. Green. “Now then,” said he,
turning to the witness, “now then, wasn’t there a young man a
standin’ by me when you came up?”
 “No—​certainly not; there was no young man by you.”
“Ah! Mr. Policeman,” ejaculated the prisoner, in a deprecating
tone, “how can you say so? Think again.”
“There was not,” repeated the witness.
“I don’t know what my father and mother will say to this,
gentlemen,” exclaimed Mr. Green, blubbering. “I would not get my
father and mother in any disgrace not, for anythink. I will take good
care I never get into bad company again. When I get over this I will
go home and be happy with my father and mother. Gentlemen, have
mercy on me, gentlemen. If I come here again you may do as you
like with me.”
Mr. Green, with all his cunning and affected innocence, showed a
more than usual confidence in human nature, if he imagined that he
could impose upon the bench of magistrates with so hackneyed a
plea.
His line of defence was as well known between St. Paul’s Church-
yard and Farringdon-street, as is the Propria que Maribus at Eton.
The magistrates, after consulting together, elected to send the
case to the sessions.
The prosecutor was bound over in his own recognisances, and Mr.
Green, “like Niobe—​all tears,” was taken back to his cell.
Peace, who had given the name of Parker when arrested, was
now placed in the dock.
He glanced round the court to see if his female assailant was
there to press the charge.
To his dismay he beheld the elderly female sitting on a bench by
the side of the witness-box.
She was a tall, sharp-featured, angular, bony woman; her cast of
features and general contour denoted inflexible determination.
 Peace presented a most rueful appearance; two plasters covered
the large and painful bumps on his head.
His face gave unmistakable evidence of the blow received from
the housemaid’s mop.
Mrs. Pocklington, the prosecutrix, had engaged a solicitor to
conduct the case.
After the usual formalities had been gone through, the gentleman
in question rose and briefly narrated the circumstances which had
led to the capture of the prisoner on the preceding night.
Mrs. Pocklington was then put into the box, and gave a succinct
account of all that had transpired.
“Upon my word, Mrs. Pocklington,” said the chairman, when the
lady had concluded, “it would appear that you are well able to
protect yourself.”
“I hope I am,” returned Mrs. Pocklington, sharply. “It is not the
first time an attempt has been made to break into my house.”
“I never attempted to break into her house, gentlemen,” cried
Peace. “Don’t believe what she says; she’s almost killed me.”
“What were you doing at the front of her residence, then? And
what right had you to be there at all? It is clearly a case of
attempted burglary, but you had better reserve your defence; we
have other witnesses to examine.”
“Thank you, sir,” said Peace; “I will not make any further
observations at present.”
The servant girl was now placed in the box. She corroborated the
evidence given by her mistress.
The two constables were next examined. They proved that the
large lock of the door had been forced open—​proved also that
housebreaking instruments were found upon the prisoner, together
with a bunch of skeleton keys—​“and all these facts pointed to one
conclusion,” said Mrs. Pocklington’s lawyer—​“namely, that the
prisoner is a professional burglar.”
Unfortunately for Peace, this was proved beyond all question. A
detective was placed in the box, who said he knew the prisoner well,
that he had undergone one month’s imprisonment in December,
1851.
Peace denied this in a most positive manner; nevertheless his
assertions had but little effect upon the bench, who decided upon
sending the case for trial.
“I’ve been punished quite enough, I should think,” ejaculated
Peace, “considering I never intended to rob the house—​but—”
“If you take my advice,” said one of the stipendiary magistrates,
“you will reserve your defence. Anything you say now will be given
in evidence against you, and it will in no way effect our decision. If
you have a legal defence, reserve it till your trial comes on at the
sessions. Do not prejudice your case by offering any observations.”
“I am obliged to you, sir, for your advice,” returned Peace “I have
a defence, but if you have decided upon sending it to the sessions it
is no use of my speaking now. Before I go, however, I hereby
solemnly declare that that wicked old woman has not spoken the
truth; she has committed perjury.”
“Don’t you dare to insult me, you nasty ugly little villain,”
exclaimed Mrs. Pocklington, rising from her seat and shaking her
umbrella menacingly at the speaker.
“Hush! Silence! Order in court!” cried the usher.
“Sit down, madam, if you please,” said one of the magistrates.
The old lady did as she was bid, but she kept rocking herself to
and fro, muttering the while to herself inarticulate sentences.
 Peace was removed, and found himself once more in his cell, in
company with the ill-used Mr. Green.
Another prisoner was brought in—​he was charged with horse
stealing.
 CHAPTER XVII.

THIEVES IN THE LOCK UP—​A HORSE-STEALER

TELLS THE STORY OF HIS LIFE.

There were an unusual number of charges to be heard at the

court on the day in which Peace was examined. A gang of poachers
were charged with an attempt to murder a gamekeeper in the
neighbourhood. The prisoners who had been committed were
therefore removed from the cells to make room for the fresh arrivals.
Peace, Mr. Green, and five others were conveyed to a lock-up
which was situated at about two miles distant from the court. They
were to remain there till the prison van returned to take them to the
county gaol.
The lock-up in question has long since undergone demolition, and
indeed at the time of which we are writing it was only occasionally
used as a temporary and supplementary prison-house for offenders.
It was part of a large building originally erected as a receptacle
for fraudulent debtors.
Peace and his companions were safely deposited in the prison van
which conveyed them to what was in reality only a wing of the
substantial-looking building.
They were conducted into a large lofty stone-room, with windows
near to the ceiling, much after the fashion of Millbank prison.
 In front of these were strong iron bars.
A long massive table stood in the centre of the cheerless
apartment, and around this were arranged a number of chairs.
A cheerful fire was burning in the grate, and in front of this ran
some strong iron bars as high as a man’s chest. These were
supported and braced by iron uprights.
When Peace and his fellow-prisoners entered this place they
found several other offenders already assembled therein.
The massive door, studded with iron nails, was slammed to and
looked from the outside.
“What do they mean by bringing us to a crib like this when we
are committed to the county gaol?” said Mr. Green, in a tone of
disgust. “I shall enter an action agen them for unlawful detention.”
“You are particular,” cried a man seated at the corner of the
fireplace. “You’ll be taken to the gaol soon enough, but it won’t be
till after the rising of the court.”
“You seem to know all about it,” returned Mr. Green. “Thank you
for the information.”
The batch of prisoners who had but just arrived now possessed
themselves of the requisite number of chairs, and arranged
themselves in a group apart from the others.
There was a dead silence for some time after this.
Peace was moody and thoughtful, and every now and then
regarded his companions with a furtive glance.
He did not recognise any person with whom he had been
previously acquainted.
“You all of yer look confoundedly down in the dumps,” said the
man who had been charged with horse-stealing. “It’s no use giving
way. Make your miserable lives as happy as you can—​that’s my
motto.”
The man who gave utterance to this speech was about thirty-five
years of age, and five feet seven in height, with a remarkably firm-
knit frame.
His face was bronzed, his hair and eyes were jet black, the former
hanging in ringlets over the latter; his mouth was coarse and
sensual; his legs were slightly curved, which added to the general
strength of his figure.
He wore a sloped-cut, dark-green coat, with metal buttons, a
striped vest, which hung half-way down his thighs, over which were
broad-striped corduroys, buttoned over the top of the knees, with
loose cloth leggings, having gilt buttons to match.
On the whole his appearance denoted a groom possessing great
muscular power, and a bully of ferocious determination, who would
not hesitate a moment to carry out any undertaking in which he had
embarked. For the rest he did not appear to be depressed by the
situation in which he found himself placed; he was cheerful and
loquacious.
“Listen to me, mates,” said this personage, rising from his seat.
“If, as our friend has said, we are to remain here till the rising of the
court, we shall, I’m afraid, find the time hang heavily on our hearts.”
“If we do, there’s no help for it,” said Peace, looking hard at the
speaker.
“Right you are, my lad,” returned the other, who then proceeded
with his discourse. “I was just a-thinkin’,” he observed, “which
among us has the honour of being the biggest rogue. We’ve all been
guilty, gentlemen, of doing something which has brought the wrath
of our enemies down upon us. I myself am here for taking an airing
on a pad one fine moonlight night. Now, I say, I wonder which is the
biggest rogue in this batch of injured gentlemen?”
 “Oh, shut up; that will do,” said a voice from the further end of
the room. “What does it matter?”
“Well,” returned the other, “as far as that goes, I don’t know how
it does much matter; but it aint in my nature to sit still like a dummy
when in such good company as I now find myself. Let us relate to
each other our own lives and doings. It will amuse some on us.”
“You begin with yours, then,” said Peace. “You’ve got the jawing
tackle on, and won’t stand still for want of words, I dare say. I’m
quite willing. What say you, gentlemen?”
There was a murmur of many voices, and some of those present
expressed their willingness to listen to the story.
“Good, then; here goes to keep the game alive. I can say I am
not related to any of the hupper classes; leastways not as I knows
on—​my impression being that I was born under a hedge: I am a
gipsy: this I dare say you have already guessed. Well, let me tell you
a gipsy’s life is not without is charms. I believe I was cradled on a
horse or a donkey, but this is what I’ve heard other people say.
No. 9.
 “DON’T YOU DARE TO INSULT ME, YOU NASTY UGLY
LITTLE VILLIAN,” EXCLAIMED MRS. POCKLINGTON.

“My earliest recollections bring to my view seven or eight hooped

tents on the skirts of a common, eight or ten stunted sorts of
horses, and five or six donkeys with here and there a fire on the
ground, kettles hanging over them hitched on a cross-stick,
supported by others fixed in the ground.
 “Myself with four or five other children of my own age might be
seen rolling on the grass just washed and refreshed by the morning
dew.
“There, aint that a picter? But, Lord love yer, them days are
passed, and the honourable race of gipsies are rapidly passing away
before modern improvements, as they are termed—​and be hanged
to them.
“Aint it a picture—​a gipsy encampment, I only ask ye that?”
“It is, without a doubt, quite a picture,” said Peace.
“I see you are a sensible man, sir,” remarked the gipsy; “but let
me proceed with my story.
“As I grow up I was reckoned the best climber and runner in the
camp. My elder brother, Ralph, undertook my edication.
“‘Will,’ ses he, one day, ‘come along with me.’ He took me to a
pond at the remote corner of a common when he laid me down on
my face across the edge of the bank.
He then covered me with briar, and giving me proper instructions
went and drove the geese all that way, quietly to the spot where I
lay.
As they waddled to reach the water, I, from under the boughs,
grabbed at their legs and secured two on ’em. Didn’t I have a tuck-
out when I got home off one of the geese?”
There was a roar of laughter at this part of the narrative.
“After this I got on fast in life; new scenes every day opened to
me, and horse-dealing and horse-stealing became part of my
business.
“We attended races and fairs, where the girls of our camp told
fortunes, the old women set up togs for the children to throw at
three shies a penny. My brother and others followed the thimble and
garter rig, while I and father at times skirted the towns and villages
to job swap horses.
“Sometimes I was sent off with a horse fifty miles away from his
former acquaintances, there to await the arrival of our clan.
“When I was fifteen years of age I could ride and leap a ’oss with
any jockey in the kingdom. A ’oss I liked better than anything in the
world, and a prad has got me into my present difficulty; but it can’t
be helped.
“It happened one day, as my brother and I were taking four
chopped ’osses to a fair (we never ventured into a market with a
prigged prad), a pack of hounds crossed the road, and presently a
lot of swells came leaping over the hedge arter them. One of the last
of these, togged in a scarlet coat, came rolling over the ’oss slap at
Ralph’s feet.
“‘Hallo!’ said Ralph, ‘a regular spill.’
“Over went the ’oss on the t’other side into the field. ‘She’ll gallop
home,’ said the huntsman.
“‘No she won’t,’ said I, and away I goes with my pony arter her.
Well, I had a good chase, but I nabbed her, and getting into the
saddle slap, I gallops back and took the hedge and ditch like a good
un into the road where Ralph was rubbing down the swell.
“‘Good lad,’ said the huntsman. ‘Why he can ride a bit.’
“‘Ride,’ said Ralph; ‘I believe you, master.’
“‘Try her again,’ said the swell.
“So I puts the mare over the hedge and back agen, like a buck in
full chase.
“‘Well done, excellent; you’re a brave boy,’ exclaimed the swell
cove. ‘Do you want a place, my lad?’
 “‘I could do very well with one, sir,’ I answered.
“‘Very well; if you do come to my stables,’ said he, and with that
he handed me his card.
“Well arter he had gone I thought of what he sed, and the next
day I ran over to the gentleman’s stables, when I met a chap
cleaning a curb chain.
“‘What do want here?’ said the man.
“‘I want to see your master,’ I replied.
“‘Do you?’ he returned, with an impudent mocking laugh.
“‘If you take my advice, youngster, you’ll just hook it.’
“‘I shan’t do nuffin of the sort,’ ses I.
“He laid hold of a long riding whip, and told me to be off.
“‘Don’t you think I am afraid of you, big as you are’ I ses.
“With that he aimed a blow at me with the whip.
“I dodged on one side, and caught hold of the lash.
“We had a tussle. I wrested the whip from his hand, and gave
him a sharp blow over the legs with the butt end of the weapon.
“Arter this we had a set-to. I floored him twice, when up comes
my new master.
“‘Leave the lad alone,’ said the swell, addressing himself to my
antagonist. ‘You’re a deal too fast.’
“‘He tried to break my leg,’ answered the man.
“‘I’ve seen the whole affair from the garden. You were the
aggressor,’ said the gentleman, who then bade me follow him into
the house.
 “He took me into a fine room in which were seated several
gentlemen, I s’pose they called themselves; and found them to be a
fast lot. But I was a little surprised to hear them ‘my lord’ my master,
and he ‘Sir Edgar’ and ‘Sir Thomas’ them.
“Well, the upshot of it was that they made bets that I would lick
the groom, whom they called Andrew.
“We had a set-to. The fight lasted over five and twenty minutes,
and I was declared victor.
“After this I had a chair among the swells, and drank wine out of
a tumbler, and the footman brought me some sandwiches, while
they talked of a lot of things in slang that puzzled me.
“I understood, however, that horse-racing, steeple-chasing, and
dog fighting were the main subjects of their discourse.
“‘You give a rare account of the aristocracy,’ said Peace.
“‘I’ve had pretty much to do with them,’ returned the gipsy. ‘Well,
the first night I went to bed in my lord’s house I couldn’t sleep a
wink, the bed was so soft and uncomfortable. I got up early, and
cleaned out the kennel. About eleven o’clock my lord and his friends
came down the yard.
“‘Well,’ ses he, ‘have you had a look at the stud yet?’
“‘No, my lord,’ says I; ‘your chaps wouldn’t like that.’
“‘They’ll have to learn better manners,’ said my lord. He then had
’em all turned out—​eight or nine on ’em there were. ‘Harkye,’ said he
to the men, ‘this is my training groom,’ pointing to me; ‘so for the
future attend to his orders as coming from me. Put up the bar, and
bring out Redfern, Curband, and Beeswing. We are going to have
some leaping. Now,’ he said, addressing himself to me; ‘there will be
some crack steeple horses here presently, and you must see what
you can do with them. Jump up, and give these a breathing before
the others arrive. Have the saddle put on which you like.’
 “‘I don’t want a saddle, my lord,’ ses I; and up I jumped on a grey
horse, named Custard, as I afterwards learnt.
“After I had made a few leaps, I placed shillings between my
knees and the ’oss’s sides, and the same under my seat, and to their
astonishment cleared the bar without displacing them.
“My lord was evidently delighted. He drew me on one side, out of
earshot of the rest, and said, in a whisper, ‘You shall be my steeple-
race jockey, but mind, don’t show all you can do at present.’
“‘All right,’ says I.
“‘I had no idea Custard could do so much till you rode him.’
“‘Why, my lord,’ said I, ‘I knowed the grey horse when a baby. I
could win all the steeplechases in the country with him.’”
“Why, how came you to know the horse?” inquired Peace.
The gipsy looked at the questioner with one eye only.
“Why, Lord bless us,” he answered, with a merry twinkle in his
eye, “father and I knowed every ’oss as was worth knowing in every
country we travelled in, and got money by carrying information
about ’em from place to place.
“Well, a great race was to come off soon after this. My lord had
taken the field twenty to one over and over ag’in against Custard for
the steeplechase which was to be run on the following week, so he
stood to win eight thousand if I could bring Custard in a winner, and
that I felt I could make sure of.
“But I must tell you, however, that my lord and I, after being so
nutty upon one another, all of a sudden on this morning began to
wrangle. First he began teaching me how to ride. Well, I couldn’t
stand that nohow.
“I’m for commanding a ’oss light in the mouth, riding him as with
a silken rein as fine as a hair, and which you feel afraid to break. My
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