Nolessremarkablethanhisskillanddaringwerehismeansofevasion.Evenwithoutaformaldisguisehecouldeludepursuit.Ataninstant\'swarning,hisloose,plasticfeatureswouldassumeanothershape;outshothislowerjaw,and,asifbymagic,thebloodflewintohisfaceuntilyoumighttakehimforamulatto.Or,ifhechose,hewouldstraphisarmtohisside,andletthepolicebebaffledbyawoodenmechanism,decentlyfinishedwithahook.ThusheroamedLondonupanddownunsuspected,andevenafterhislastfailureatBlackheath,nonewouldhavediscoveredCharlesPeaceinJohnWard,theSingle-
HandedBurglar,hadnotwoman\'streacheryprompteddetection.
Indeed,hewasanepitomeofhiscraft,theCompleteBurglarmademanifest.
Notonlydidheplanhisvictorieswithpreviousingenuity,buthesacrificedtohissuccessbothtasteandsentiment.Hisdresswasalwaysofthemostsombre;hisonlywearwasthedecentblackofeverydaygodliness.Theleastspiceofdandyismmighthavedistinguishedhimfromhisfellows,andPeace\'swholevanitylayinhiscraft.Nordidthepaltrysentimentoffriendshipdeterhimfromhisjustcourse.Whenthepanicarousedbythesilentburglarwasuncontrolled,aneighbourconsultedPeaceconcerningthesafetyofhishouse.Therobber,havingdulynotedthevilla\'simperfections,andhavingdiscoveredthehiding-placeofjewelleryandplate,complacentlyrifleditthenextnight.
Thoughhisself-esteemsustainedashock,thoughhenceforthhisfriendthoughtmeanlyofhisjudgment,hewasrewardedwiththesolidpuddingofplunder,andtheworldwhisperedofthemysteriousmarauderwithayetcolderhorror.Intruth,thelargesimplicityandsolitudeofhisstylesetshimamongtheClassics,andthoughothershavesurpassedhimatsinglepointsofthegame,hepractisedtheartwithsuchuniversalbreadthandcourageaswerethenarevolution,andarestillunsurpassed.
Buttheburglareverfightsanunequalbattle.Onefalsestep,anddefeato\'erwhelmshim.FortwoyearshadJohnWardintimidatedthemiddle-classseclusionofSouthLondon;fortwoyearshadhehiddenfromacuriousworldtheugly,furrowedvisageofCharlesPeace.Thebaldhead,thebroad-rimmedspectacles,thesquat,thickfigure——hestoodbutfivefeetfourinhisstockings,andaddsyetanothertothelistoflittle-
greatmen——shouldhaveensureddetection,butthequickchangeandthepersuasivegesturewereomnipotent,anduntiltheautumnof1878Peacewascomfortablyatlarge.AndthenanencounteratBlackheathputhimwithintheclutchofjustice.Hisrevolverfailedinitsduty,and,valiantashewas,atlasthemethismatch.Inprisonhewasalternatelyinsolentandaggrieved.Heblusteredforjustice,proclaimedhimselfthevictimofsuddentemptation,andinsistedthathisintentionhadbeeneverinnocent.
But,nonetheless,hewassentencedtoalifer,and,themaskofJohnWardbeingtornfromhim,hewassenttoSheffieldtostandhistrialasCharlesPeace.Theleapfromthetrainisalreadyrecorded;andathislastappearanceinthedockherolleduponthefloor,apetulantandbrokenman.Whenoncethelastdoomwaspronounced,heforgotbothfiddleandcrowbar;hesurrenderedhimselftothoseexercisesofpietyfromwhichhehadneverwavered.Thefoolishhavedenouncedhimforahypocrite,notknowingthattheartistmayhavealifeapartfromhisart,andthattoPeacereligionwasanessentialpursuit.Sohedied,havingreleasedfromanunjustsentencethepoorwretchwhoatWhalleyRangehadsufferedforhiscrime,andofferingupaconsolatoryprayerforallmankind.Intruth,therewasnoenemyforwhomhedidnotintercede.Heprayedforhisgaolers,forhisexecutioner,fortheOrdinary,forhiswife,forMrs.
Thompson,hisdrunkendoxy,andhewenttohisdeathwiththesurestepofonewho,havingdonehisduty,isreconciledwiththeworld.Themobtestifieditsaffectionateadmirationbydubbinghim`Charley,\'andrememberedwitheffusionhislastgrimpleasantry.`Whatisthescaffold?\'heaskedwithsublimeearnestness.Andtheanswercamequickandsanctimonious:`A
shortcuttoHeaven!\'
III
APARALLEL
DEACONBRODIEANDCHARLES
PEACE
APARALLEL
DEACONBRODIEANDCHARLES
PEACE
NOTaparallel,butacontrast,sinceatallpointsPeaceisBrodie\'santithesis.TheoneistheausterestofClassics,caringonlyfortheultimateperfectionofhiswork.TheotheristhegayestofRomantics,happiestwhenbythewayheproducesaglitteringeffect,ordazzlestheearbyavainimpertinence.
Now,itisbythieverythatPeacereachedmagnificence.A
naturalaptitudedrovehimfromthefiddletothecentre-bit.Hedidbutrob,becausegeniusfollowedtheimpulse.Hehadstudiedtheremotestdetailsofhisbusiness;hewassternlyprofessionalintheconductofhislife,and,asbecameanoldgaol-bird,therewasnoanticofthepolicemanwherewithhewasnotfamiliar.Moreover,notonlyhadhereducedhouse-breakingtoascience,but,beingostensiblynothingbetterthanapicture-
framemaker,hehadinventedanincomparablesetoftoolswherewithtoenterandevadehisneighbour\'shouse.Brodie,ontheotherhand,wasathieffordistraction.Hismethodwasasslovenlyasignorancecouldmakeit.Thoughbytradeawright,andthereforeamasterofalltheartsofjoinery,hewassodeficientinseriousnessthathestoleacoulterwherewithtobatterthewallsoftheExciseOffice.WhilePeacefoughtthebattleinsolitude,Brodiewasnotonlyattendedbyagang,butlistenedtothecommandofhissubordinates,andwasneverpermittedtoperformamoreintricatedutythanthesoundingofthealarm.Andyethereistheironicalcontrast.Peace,theprofessionalthief,despisedhisbrothers,andwasneverheardtopatterawordofflash.Brodie,theamateur,courtedthesocietyofallcrosscoves,andwouldratherexpresshimselfinPedlar\'sFrenchthaninhischoicestScots.WhiletheEnglishmanscrapedTateandBradyfromaone-stringedfiddle,theScotlimpedachauntfromTheBeggar\'sOpera,andthoughthimselfadevilofafellow.Theonewasamanabouttownmasqueradingasathief;
theotherthemostseriousamonghousebreakers,singingpsalmsinallgoodfaith.
ButifPeacewasincomparablythebettercraftsman,Brodiewastheprettiergentleman.PeacewouldnothavepermittedBrodietodrivehispony-trapthelengthofEvelinaRoad.ButBrodie,inrevenge,wouldhavecutPeacehadhemethimintheCorn-market.
Theonewasasombresavage,theotherajovialcomrade,anditwasawittyfreakoffortunethatimpelledbothtofollowthesametrade.Andthusyouarriveatanotherpointofdifference.TheEnglishmanhadnointelligenceoflife\'samenity.Heknewnaughtofcostume:clotheswerethelimitofhisambition.Dressedalwaysforwork,hewaslikethecaterpillarwhichassumesthegreenoftheleaf,whereinithides:heworeonlysuchdudsasshouldattractthesmallestnotice,andseparatehimasfarasmightbefromhisbusiness.
ButtheScotwasasfineadandyasevertookhaphazardtothecrackingofkens.Ifhisrefinementpermittednoexcessofsplendour,hewentevergloriouslyandappropriatelyapparelled.
Hewaswell-mannered,cultured,withscarceatouchofprovincialismtomarhisgaydemeanour:whereasPeaceknewlittleenoughoutsidethepracticeofburglary,andtheproperhandlingoftherevolver.
OurCharles,forexample,couldneitherspellnorwrite;hedissembledhisloworiginwiththeutmostdifficulty,andatthebestwasplasteredoverwhennotatworkwiththeparochialismofthesuburbs.Sofarthecontrastiscomplete;andevenintheirsimilaritiesthereisanevidentdifference.Eachledadoublelife;butwhileBrodiewasmosthimselfamonghisownkind,therealPeacewastobefoundnotfiddle-scrapinginEvelinaRoadbutmarkingdownpolicemenintheduskybywaysofBlackheath.Brodie\'sgrandeurwasnaturaltohim;Peace\'srespectability,sofarasittranscendedtheman\'sorigin,wasacloakofvillainy.
Each,again,wasaninventor,andwhilethemoreinnocentBrodiedesignedagallows,themorehardenedPeacewouldhavegainednotorietybytheraisingofwrecksandthepatronageofMr.Plimsoll.Andsincebothpreservedacertaincouragetotheend,sincebothdiedonthescaffoldasbecomesaman,thecontrastisoncemorecharacteristic.Brodie\'scynicismisafinefoiltothepietyofPeace;andwhileeachendwasnaturalafteritsownfashion,thereisnonewhowilldenytotheScotthefinersenseoffitness.Nordidanystepintheircareerexplainmoreclearlythedifferenceintheirtemperamentthantheirdefinitionsofthegallows.ForPeaceitis`ashortcuttoHeaven\';forBrodieitis`aleapinthedark.\'AgaintheScothastheadvantage.Againyoureflectthat,ifPeaceisthemostaccomplishedClassicamongthehousebreakers,theDeaconisthemerriestcompanionwhoeverclimbedthegallowsbytheshouldersoftheincomparableMacheath.
THEMANINTHEGREYSUIT
THEMANINTHEGREYSUIT
THEAbb-le-Berenger.HecountedadozenChouansamonghisancestry,andbrigandageswaminhisblood.Evenhischildhoodwascrimsonwithcrimes,whichthequickmemoryofthecountrysidelongagolostintheprideofhavingbredapriest.Hestainedhisfirstcureofsoulswiththepoor,sadsinofarson,whichthebishop,fearfulofscandalandlothtocheckapromisingcareer,condonedwithasuitableadvancement.
AtEntrammes,hisnextbenefice,heenteredintohisfullinheritanceofvillainy,andhereitwas——despitehisownprotest——thathedevisedthegreysuitwhichbroughthimruinandimmortality.Tothewild,hilariousdissipationofLaval,thenearesttown,hefellanimmediateandunresistingprey.Thinkoftheglitteringlamps,thesparklingtaverns,thebright-eyedwomen,themanifoldfascinations,whicharethecharacteranddelightofthisforgottencity!Why,iftheAbbdisappearedwithacommendableconstancy,andwiththatjustsenseofsecrecywhichshouldcompelevenanarchiepiscopaladmiration.Hewasnotofthosewhowoulddraghiscloththroughthemire.NotuntilthedarknesshelovedsoferventlycoveredtheearthwouldheescapefromthedullrespectabilityofEntrammes,nordidheeverthusescapeunaccompaniedbyhisfamousvalise.Thegreysuitwasaneffectualdisguisetohiscalling,andsojealouswasheoftheChurch\'shonourthathenever——unlessinhiscups——disclosedhistonsure.Oneofhisinnumerablelovesconfessedinthewitness-boxthatBruneaualwaysretainedhishatintheglareoftheCafwasneverguiltyofameanness.Thelessguiltyschemewasspeedilystaled,andthenitwasthattheAbbwasstillimpoverished.Alreadyhehadrobbedhisvicar,andthesuspicionoftheAbb
MONSIEURL\'ABBRosselotisassecretashisorigin,andnomanmayknowwhetherBelfortorBavariasmileduponhisinnocence.Alikemysteryenshroudshisearlymanhood,andthemaliceofhisfoes,whoarelegion,denounceshimforaJesuitofInnsbruck.Butsincehehaslivedwithintheeyeoftheworldhisvillainieshavebeenrevealedasclearlyashisattainments,andhistoryprovideshimnootherrivalinthecorruptionofyouththantheinfamousThwackum.
Itisnoteveryscholar\'sambitiontoteachtheelements,andRosselotadoptedhismodestcallingasacloakofcrime.Nosoonerwasheinstalledinamansionthanhebecamethemansion\'smaster,andhenceforthheruledhisemployer\'sdomainwiththetyrannicalseverityofaGrandInquisitor.Hissoulwrappedinthetriplebrassofarrogance,heevendaredtolayhishandsuponfoodbeforehisbetterswereserved;andpresently,emboldenedbysuccess,hewouldorderthedinners,reproachthecookwithatoolavishuseofcondiments,anddescendwithinsolentexpostulationintothekitchen.Inaweekhehadopenedthecupboardsuponadozenskeletons,andmadethemrattletheirricketybonesupanddownthedraughtystaircases,untiltheinmatesshiveredwithhorrorandtheterrifiedneighboursfledthehauntedcastleasalazar-house.Onceinpossessionofafamilysecret,hefelthimselfsecure,andhenceforthhewasfreetobrowbeathisemployerandtofloghispupiltothesatisfactionofhiswaspishnature.Moreover,hewasendowedwithalltheinsightandeffronteryofatrainedjournalist.Sosedulouswasheinhissearchafterthetruth,thatneithermannorwomancoulddenyhimconfidence.And,asvinegarflowedinhisveinsforblood,itwashismerrysporttosetwifeagainsthusbandandchildrenagainstfather.Notevenweretheservantssafefromhiswatchfulinquiry,andhousemaidsandgovernessesalikeentrustedtheirhopesandfearstohismaliciouskeeping.
Andwhenthehousehadretiredtorest,withwhatasinisterdelightdidhechuckleoverthefrailtiesandinfamies,aguiltyknowledgeofwhichhehaddraggedfrommanyanunwillingsinner!
Toousthim,wheninstalled,wasaplainimpossibility,forthiswringerofheartswasonlytooglibinthesurrenderofanother\'sscandal;andasheacceptedthelastscurrilitywithChristianresignation,hisunfortunateemployercouldbutstrengthenhisvocabularyandpatientlyendurethepresenceofthissmiling,demoniacaltutor.
ButatoovillainouscuriositywasnottheAbbhereceivedwithagrincomplacentasShylock\'s,forwashenotconsciousthatwhenhelikedthepoundoffleshwashisown!
Withafiend\'sduplicityhelaidhisplansofruinanddeath.
TheMarquise,swayedtohiswill,receivedhimsecretlyintheblueroomwhoseverycoloursuggestsaguiltyintrigue,thoughnever,upontheoathofanAbb\'sdictation,andwhenherhusbandreturnedtoSt.Amandhewasinstantlythrustintoprison.Nothingremainedbuttocajolethesonsintoanexpressedhatredoftheirfather,andthelastenormitywascommittedbyamasterpieceofcunning.`Yourfather\'sonechanceofescape,\'arguedthisvillaininacassock,`istobeprovedaninhumanruffian.Swearthathebeatyouunmercifullyandyouwillsavehimfromtheguillotine.\'AllthedupeslearnedtheirlessonwithacertaintywhichreflectsinfinitecreditupontheAbb\'scharacterwasrevealedbeforehepartedhislipsinspeech.
Unmovedhestoodandimmovable;hetreatedtheimprecationsoftheMarquiswithacolddisdain;astheburdenofproofgrewheavyonhisback,heshruggedhisshouldersinwearyindifference.Hetoldhismonstrousstorywithacynicalcontempt,whichhasscarceitsequalinthehistoryofcrime;andpriest,ashewas,heprovedthathedidnotyieldtotheMarquishimselfintheRabelaisianamplitudeofhisvocabulary.HebroughtchargesagainsttheweirdworldofPresleswithaninsoucianceandbrutalitywhichdefeatedtheirownaim.HedescribedthevicesofhismasterandthesinsoftheservantsinaslangwhichwouldsitmoregracefullyuponanidleroystererthanuponapiousAbb