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they watched the door of the Excise； long had they studied the habits of its
clerks； so that they went to work in no vain spirit of experiment。 Nor on
the fatal night did they force an entrance until they had dogged the porter
to his home。 Smith and Brown ransacked the place for money； while
Brodie and Andrew Ainslie remained without to give a necessary warning。
Whereupon Ainslie was seized with fright； and Brodie； losing his head；
called off the others； so that six hundred pounds were left； that might have
been an easy prey。 Smith； indignant at the collapse of the long… pondered
design； laid the blame upon his master； and they swung； as Brodie's grim
spirit of farce suggested； for four pounds apiece。
The humours of the situation were all the Deacon's own。 He dressed
the part in black； his respectability grinned behind a vizard； and all the
while he trifled nonchalantly with a pistol。 Breaking the silence with
snatches from The Beggar's Opera； he promised that all their lead should
turn to gold； christened the coulter and the crow the Great and Little
Samuel； and then went off to drink and dice at the Vintner's。 How could
anger prevail against this undying gaiety？ And if Smith were peevish at
failure； he was presently reconciled； and prepared once more to die for his
Deacon。
Even after escape； the amateur is still apparent。 True； he managed the
trip to Flushing with his ancient extravagance； true； he employed all the
juggleries of the law to prevent his surrender at Amsterdam。 But he
knew not the caution of the born criminal； and he was run to earth；
because he would still write to his friends like a gentleman。 His letters；
during this nightmare of disaster； are perfect in their carelessness and
good…fellowship。 In this he demands news of his children； as becomes a
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father and a citizen； and furnishes a schedule of their education； in that he
is curious concerning the issue of a main； and would know whether his
black cock came off triumphant。 Nor； even in flight； did he forget his
proper craft； but would have his tools sent to Charleston； that in America
he might resume the trade that had made him Deacon。
But his was the art of conduct； not of guile； and he deserved capture
for his rare indifference。 Why； then； with no natural impulsion； did he
risk the gallows？ Why； being no born thief； and innocent of the thief's
cunning； did he associate with so clever a scoundrel as George Smith； with
cowards craven as Brown and Ainslie？ The greed of gold； doubtless； half
persuaded him； but gold was otherwise attainable； and the motive was
assuredly far more subtle。 Brodie； in fact； was of a romantic turn。 He
was； so to say； a glorified schoolboy； surfeited with penny dreadfuls。 He
loved above all things to patter the flash； to dream himself another
Macheath； to trick himself out with all the trappings of a crime he was
unfit to commit。 It was never the job itself that attracted him： he would
always rather throw the dice than force a neighbour's window。 But he
must needs have a distraction from the respectability of his life。
Everybody was at his feet； he was Deacon of his Guild； at an age whereat
his fellows were striving to earn a reputable living； his masterpieces were
fashioned； and the wrights' trade was already a burden。 To go upon the
cross seemed a dream of freedom； until he snapped his fingers at the world；
filled his mouth with slang； prepared his alibi； and furnished him a whole
wardrobe of disguises。
With a conscious irony； maybe； he buried his pistols beneath the
domestic hearth； jammed his dark lantern into the press； where he kept his
game…cocks； and determined to make an inextricable jumble of his career。
Drink is sometimes a sufficient reaction against the orderliness of a
successful life。
But drink and cards failed with the Deacon； and at the Vintner's of his
frequentation he encountered accomplices proper for his schemes。 Never
was so outrageous a protest offered against domesticity。 Yet Brodie's
resolution was romantic after its fashion； and was far more respectable
than the blackguardism of the French Revolution； which distracted
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housewifely discontent a year after the Deacon swung。 Moreover； it gave
occasion for his dandyism and his love of display。 If in one incarnation
he was the complete gentleman； in another he dressed the part of the
perfect scoundrel； and the list of his costumes would have filled one of his
own ledgers。
But； when once the possibility of housebreaking was taken from him；
he returned to his familiar dignity。 Being questioned by the Procurator
Fiscal； he shrugged his shoulders； regretting that other affairs demanded
his attention。 As who should say： it is unpardonable to disturb the
meditations of a gentleman。 He made a will bequeathing his knowledge
of law to the magistrates of Edinburgh； his dexterity in cards and dice to
Hamilton the chimney…sweeper； and all his bad qualities to his good
friends and old companions； Brown and Ainslie； not doubting； however；
that their own will secure them ‘a rope at last。' In prison it was his worst
complaint that； though the nails of his toes and fingers were not quite so
long as Nebuchadnezzar's； they were long enough for a mandarin； and
much longer than he found convenient。 Thus he preserved an untroubled
demeanour until the day of his death。 Always polite； and even joyous； he
met the smallest indulgence with enthusiasm。 When Smith complained
that a respite of six weeks was of small account； Brodie exclaimed；
‘George； what would you and I give for six weeks longer？ Six weeks
would be an age to us。'
The day of execution was the day of his supreme triumph。 As some
men are artists in their lives； so the Deacon was an artist in his death。
Nothing became him so well as his manner of leaving the world。 There
is never a blot upon this exquisite performance。 It is superb； impeccable！
Again his dandyism supported him； and he played the part of a dying man
in a full suit of black； his hair； as always； dressed and powdered。 The day
before he had been jovial and sparkling。 He had chanted all his flash
songs； and cracked the jokes of a man of fashion。 But he set out for the
gallows with a firm step and a rigorous demeanour。 He offered a prayer
of his own composing； and ‘O Lord；' he said； ‘I lament that I know so little
of Thee。' The patronage and the confession are alike characteristic。 As
he drew near the scaffold； the model of which he had given to his native
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city a few years since； he stepped with an agile briskness； he examined the
halter； destined for his neck； with an impartial curiosity。
His last pleasantry was uttered as he ascended the table。 ‘George；' he
muttered； ‘you are first in hand；' and thereafter he took farewell of his
friends。 Only one word of petulance escaped his lips： when the halters
were found too short； his contempt for slovenly workmanship urged him
to protest； and to demand a punishment for the executioner。 Again
ascending the table； he assured himself against further mishap by
arranging the rope with his own hands。 Thus he was turned off in a
brilliant assembly。 The Provost and Magistrates； in respect for his
dandyism； were resplendent in their robes of office； and though the crowd
of spectators rivalled that which paid a tardy honour to Jonathan Wild； no
one was hurt save the customary policeman。 Such was the dignified end
of a ‘double life。' And the duplicity is the stranger； because the real
Deacon was not Brodie the Cracksman； but Brodie the Gentleman。 So
lightly did he esteem life that he tossed it from him in a careless impulse。
So little did he fear death that； ‘What is hanging？' he asked。 ‘A leap in
the dark。'
II CHARLES PEACE
CHARLES PEACE； after the habit of his kind； was born of
scrupulously honest parents。 The son of a religious file…maker； he owed
to his father not only his singular piety but his love of edged tools。 As he
never encountered an iron bar whose scission baffled him； so there never
was a fire…eating Methodist to whose ministrations he would not turn a
repentant ear。 After a handy portico and a rich booty he loved nothing so
well as a soul… stirring discourse。 Not even his precious fiddle occupied a
larger space in his heart than that devotion which the ignorant have termed
hypocrisy。 Wherefore his career was no less suitable to his ambition than
his inglorious end。 For he lived the king of housebreakers； and he died a
wa