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It has been said, so I have heard, that a man's good name is his most precious possession; it should be more highly prized than silver or gold, rubies or diamonds.
That sounds fine, but I've always felt that my own most important and valuable assets are my good looks and my pelt, and I am very closely attached to both. I dislike the idea of spoiling or losing either of them. .
Which is why, when I was suddenly confronted by Thomas Falkes in a dim, dingy alleyway that smelled of hog shit and rotten entrails, out near the shambles beside Smithfield, my inclination was just to turn and run, especially when I saw his mouth open in a broad grin. There was a lot in that grin: malice vindictiveness, and a complete lack of feeling for his fellow man. Mostly, it showed he was looking forward to inflicting pain on me. .
And I would have bolted, too, were it not for the two men who had appeared behind me. Individually they were large; as wide as the alley, almost, and tall as a house, or so it seemed. It felt like I was confronted by a wall of muscle. .
'I want a word with you,' Falkes said while I cricked my neck looking up at their faces. .
I turned to face him. It's better, I reckon, to see what is about to happen rather than guessing and, besides, I would never break through those two. I was inclined to think that if I were to escape, it would be around Thomas. .
'Hallo, Thomas,' I said airily. Then I saw the size of the knife in his hand. .
He smiled. 'I'm going to cut your ballocks off, and feed them to you.'.
Not the most favourable beginning, but Thomas Falkes was not one of the world's light-hearted conversationalists. One of the most famous thief-takers and crooked men in the whole of London, if you ignore the politicians and lawyers, Falkes was a swindler, blackmailer, procurer of whores and fence of stolen goods. There was no crime so small that he wouldn't deign to corner it. I'd heard that he had once robbed his own mother of her pewter. Another man told me he killed his own father, but I think that was Falkes boasting. I doubt he ever knew his father.
