a book of scoundrels(流浪之书)-第40章
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the suburb expected。 His musical evenings were recorded in the local
paper； while on Sundays he chanted the songs of Zion with a zeal which
Clapham herself might envy。
The house in Evelina Road was no mere haunt of quiet gentility。 It
was chosen with admirable forethought and with a stern eye upon the
necessities of business。 Beyond the garden wall frowned a railway
embankment； which enabled the cracksman to escape from his house
without opening the front door。 By the same embankment he might； if he
chose； convey the trophies of the night's work； and what mattered it if the
windows rattled to the passing train？
At least a cloud of suspicion was dispelled。 Here he lived for two
years； with naught to disturb his tranquillity save Mrs。 Thompson's taste
for drink。 The hours of darkness were spent in laborious activity； the
open day brought its own distractions。 There was always Bow Street
wherein to loaf； and the study of the criminal law lost none of its
excitement from the reward offered outside for the bald…headed fanatic
who sat placidly within。 And the love of music was Peace's constant
solace。 Whatever treasures he might discard in a hurried flight； he never
left a fiddle behind； and so vast became his pilfered collection that he had
to borrow an empty room in a friend's house for its better disposal。
Moreover； he had a fervent pride in his craft； and you might deduce
from his performance the whole theory and practice of burglary。 He
worked ever without accomplices。 He knew neither the professional
thief nor his lingo； and no association with gaol…birds involved him in the
risk of treachery and betrayal。 His single colleague was a friendly fence；
and not even at the gallows' foot would he surrender the fence's name。
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His master quality was a constructive imagination。 Accident never
marred his design。 He would visit the house of his breaking until he
understood its ground…plan； and was familiar with its inhabitants。 This
demanded an amazing circumspection； but Peace was as stealthy as a cat；
and he would keep silent vigil for hours rather than fail from an over keen
anxiety。 Having marked the place of his entry； and having chosen an
appropriate hour； he would prevent the egress of his enemies by screwing
up the doors。
He then secured the room wherein he worked； and the job finished； he
slung himself into the night by the window； so that； ere an alarm could be
raised； his pony…trap had carried the booty to Evelina Road。
Such was the outline of his plan； but； being no pedant； he varied it at
will： nor was he likely to court defeat through lack of resource。
Accomplished as he was in his proper business； he was equally alert to
meet the accompanying risks。 He had brought the art of cozening strange
dogs to perfection； and for the exigence of escape； his physical equipment
was complete。 He would resist capture with unparalleled determination；
and though he shuddered at the shedding of blood； he never 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
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A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS
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
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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 exec
