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