a book of scoundrels-第33节
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ever hesitated when necessity bade him pull the trigger。 Moreover； there was no space into which he would not squeeze his body； and the iron bars were not yet devised through which he could not make an exit。 Onceit was at Nottinghamhe was surprised by an inquisitive detective who demanded his name and trade。 ‘I am a hawker of spectacles；' replied Peace； ‘and my licence is downstairs。 Wait two minutes and I'll show it you。' The detective never saw him again。 Six inches only separated the bars of the window； but Peace asked no more； and thus silently he won his freedom。 True； his most daring featthe leap from the trainresulted not in liberty； but in a broken head。 But he essayed a task too high even for his endeavour； and； despite his manacles； at least he left his boot in the astonished warder's grip。
No less remarkable than his skill and daring were his means of evasion。 Even without a formal disguise he could elude pursuit。 At an instant's warning； his loose； plastic features would assume another shape； out shot his lower jaw； and； as if by magic； the blood flew into his face until you might take him for a mulatto。 Or； if he chose； he would strap his arm to his side； and let the police be baffled by a wooden mechanism； decently finished with a hook。 Thus he roamed London up and down unsuspected； and even after his last failure at Blackheath； none would have discovered Charles Peace in John Ward； the Single… Handed Burglar； had not woman's treachery prompted detection。 Indeed； he was an epitome of his craft； the Complete Burglar made manifest。
Not only did he plan his victories with previous ingenuity； but he sacrificed to his success both taste and sentiment。 His dress was always of the most sombre； his only wear was the decent black of everyday godliness。 The least spice of dandyism might have distinguished him from his fellows； and Peace's whole vanity lay in his craft。 Nor did the paltry sentiment of friendship deter him from his just course。 When the panic aroused by the silent burglar was uncontrolled； a neighbour consulted Peace concerning the safety of his house。 The robber； having duly noted the villa's imperfections； and having discovered the hiding…place of jewellery and plate； complacently rifled it the next night。 Though his self…esteem sustained a shock； though henceforth his friend thought meanly of his judgment； he was rewarded with the solid pudding of plunder； and the world whispered of the mysterious marauder with a yet colder horror。 In truth； the large simplicity and solitude of his style sets him among the Classics； and though others have surpassed him at single points of the game； he practised the art with such universal breadth and courage as were then a revolution； and are still unsurpassed。
But the burglar ever fights an unequal battle。 One false step； and defeat o'erwhelms him。 For two years had John Ward intimidated the middle…class seclusion of South London； for two years had he hidden from a curious world the ugly； furrowed visage of Charles Peace。 The bald head； the broad…rimmed spectacles； the squat； thick figurehe stood but five feet four in his stockings； and adds yet another to the list of little… great menshould have ensured detection； but the quick change and the persuasive gesture were omnipotent； and until the autumn of 1878 Peace was comfortably at large。 And then an encounter at Blackheath put him within the clutch of justice。 His revolver failed in its duty； and； valiant as he was； at last he met his match。 In prison he was alternately insolent and aggrieved。 He blustered for justice； proclaimed himself the victim of sudden temptation； and insisted that his intention had been ever innocent。
But； none the less； he was sentenced to a lifer； and； the mask of John Ward being torn from him； he was sent to Sheffield to stand his trial as Charles Peace。 The leap from the train is already recorded； and at his last appearance in the dock he rolled upon the floor； a petulant and broken man。 When once the last doom was pronounced； he forgot both fiddle and crowbar； he surrendered himself to those exercises of piety from which he had never wavered。 The foolish have denounced him for a hypocrite； not knowing that the artist may have a life apart from his art； and that to Peace religion was an essential pursuit。 So he died； having released from an unjust sentence the poor wretch who at Whalley Range had suffered for his crime； and offering up a consolatory prayer for all mankind。 In truth； there was no enemy for whom he did not intercede。 He prayed for his gaolers； for his executioner； for the Ordinary； for his wife； for Mrs。 Thompson； his drunken doxy； and he went to his death with the sure step of one who； having done his duty； is reconciled with the world。 The mob testified its affectionate admiration by dubbing him ‘Charley；' and remembered with effusion his last grim pleasantry。 ‘What is the scaffold？' he asked with sublime earnestness。 And the answer came quick and sanctimonious： ‘A short cut to Heaven！'
III A PARALLEL
（DEACON BRODIE AND CHARLES PEACE）
A PARALLEL （DEACON BRODIE AND CHARLES PEACE）
NOT a parallel； but a contrast； since at all points Peace is Brodie's antithesis。 The one is the austerest of Classics； caring only for the ultimate perfection of his work。 The other is the gayest of Romantics； happiest when by the way he produces a glittering effect； or dazzles the ear by a vain impertinence。 Now； it is by thievery that Peace reached magnificence。 A natural aptitude drove him from the fiddle to the centre…bit。 He did but rob； because genius followed the impulse。 He had studied the remotest details of his business； he was sternly professional in the conduct of his life； and； as became an old gaol…bird； there was no antic of the policeman wherewith he was not familiar。 Moreover； not only had he reduced house…breaking to a science； but； being ostensibly nothing better than a picture… frame maker； he had invented an incomparable set of tools wherewith to enter and evade his neighbour's house。 Brodie； on the other hand； was a thief for distraction。 His method was as slovenly as ignorance could make it。 Though by trade a wright； and therefore a master of all the arts of joinery； he was so deficient in seriousness that he stole a coulter wherewith to batter the walls of the Excise Office。 While Peace fought the battle in solitude； Brodie was not only attended by a gang； but listened to the command of his subordinates； and was never permitted to perform a more intricate duty than the sounding of the alarm。 And yet here is the ironical contrast。 Peace； the professional thief； despised his brothers； and was never heard to patter a word of flash。 Brodie； the amateur； courted the society of all cross coves； and would rather express himself in Pedlar's French than in his choicest Scots。 While the Englishman scraped Tate and Brady from a one…stringed fiddle； the Scot limped a chaunt from The Beggar's Opera； and thought himself a devil of a fellow。 The one was a man about town masquerading as a thief； the other the most serious among housebreakers； singing psalms in all good faith。
But if Peace was incomparably the better craftsman； Brodie was the prettier gentleman。 Peace would not have permitted Brodie to drive his pony…trap the length of Evelina Road。 But Brodie； in revenge； would have cut Peace had he met him in the Corn…market。 The one was a sombre savage； the other a jovial comrade； and it was a witty freak of fortune that impelled both to follow the same trade。 And thus you arrive at another point of difference。 The Englishman had no intelligence of life's amenity。 He knew naught of costume： clothes were the limit of his ambition。 Dressed always for work； he was like the caterpillar which assumes the green of the leaf； wherein it hides： he wore only such duds as should attract the smallest notice； and separate him as far as might be from his business。 But the Scot was as fine a dandy as ever took （haphazard） to the cracking of kens。 If his refinement permitted no excess of splendour； he went ever gloriously and appropriately apparelled。 He was well…mannered； cultured； with scarce a touch of provincialism to mar his gay demeanour： whereas Peace knew little enough outside the practice of burglary； and the proper handling of the revolver。
Our Charles； for example； could neither spell nor write； he dissembled his low origin with the utmost difficulty； and at the best was plastered over （when not at work） with the parochialism of the suburbs。 So far the contrast is complete； and even in their similarities there is an evident difference。 Each led a double life； but while Brodie was most himself among his own kind； the real Peace was to be found not fiddle…scraping in Evelina Road but marking down policemen in the dusky byways of Blackheath。 Brodie's grandeur was natural to him； Peace's respectability； so far as it transcended the man's origin； was a cloak of villainy。
Each； again； was an inventor； and while the more innocent Brodie designed a gallows； the more hardened Peace would have gained notoriety by the raising of wrecks and the patronage of Mr。 Plimsoll。 And since both preserved a certain courage
