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his inglorious end。 For he lived the king of housebreakers； and he died a
warning to all evildoers； with a prayer of intercession trembling upon his
lips。
The hero's boyhood is wrapped in obscurity。 It is certain that no
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glittering precocity brought disappointment to his maturer years； and he
was already nineteen when he achieved his first imprisonment。 Even
then 'twas a sorry offence； which merited no more than a month； so that he
returned to freedom and his fiddle with his character unbesmirched。
Serious as ever in pious exercises； he gained a scanty living as strolling
musician。 There was never a tavern in Sheffield where the twang of his
violin was unheard； and the skill wherewith he extorted music from a
single string earned him the style and title of the modern Paganini。 But
such an employ was too mean for his pride； and he soon got to work
againthis time with a better success。 The mansions of Sheffield were
his early prey； and a rich plunder rewarded his intrepidity。 The design
was as masterly as its accomplishment。 The grand style is already
discernible。 The houses were broken in quietude and good order。 None
saw the opened window； none heard the step upon the stair； in truth； the
victim's loss was his first intelligence。
But when the booty was in the robber's own safe keeping； the
empiricism of his method was revealed。 As yet he knew no secret and
efficient fence to shield him from detection； as yet he had not learnt that
the complete burglar works alone。 This time he knew two accomplices
women both； and one his own sister！ A paltry pair of boots was the clue
of discovery； and a goodly stretch was the proper reward of a clumsy
indiscretion。 So for twenty years he wavered between the crowbar and
the prison house； now perfecting a brilliant scheme； now captured through
recklessness or drink。 Once when a mistake at Manchester sent him to
the Hulks； he owned his failure was the fruit of brandy； and after his wont
delivered （from the dock） a little homily upon the benefit of sobriety。
Meanwhile his art was growing to perfection。 He had at last
discovered that a burglary demands as diligent a forethought as a
campaign； he had learnt that no great work is achieved by a multitude of
minds。 Before his boat carried off a goodly parcel of silk from
Nottingham； he was known to the neighbourhood as an enthusiastic and
skilful angler。 One day he dangled his line； the next he sat peacefully at
the same employ； and none suspected that the mild mannered fisherman
had under the cloud of night despatched a costly parcel to London。 Even
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the years of imprisonment were not ill…spent。 Peace was still preparing
the great achievement of his life； and he framed from solitary reflection as
well as from his colleagues in crime many an ingenious theory afterwards
fearlessly translated into practice。 And when at last he escaped the
slavery of the gaol； picture… framing was the pursuit which covered the
sterner business of his life。 His depredation involved him in no suspicion；
his changing features rendered recognition impossible。 When the
exercise of his trade compelled him to shoot a policeman at Whalley
Range； another was sentenced for the crime； and had he not encountered
Mrs。 Dyson； who knows but he might have practised his art in prosperous
obscurity until claimed by a coward's death？ But a stormy love…passage
with Mrs。 Dyson led to the unworthy killing of the woman's husbanda
crime unnecessary and in no sense consonant to the burglar's craft； and
Charles Peace was an outlaw； with a reward set upon his head。
And now came a period of true splendour。 Like Fielding； like
Cervantes； like Sterne； Peace reserved his veritable masterpiece for the
certainty of middlelife。 His last two years were nothing less than a march
of triumph。 If you remember his constant danger； you will realise the
grandeur of the scheme。 From the moment that Peace left Bannercross
with Dyson's blood upon his hands； he was a hunted man。 His capture
was worth five hundred pounds； his features were familiar to a hundred
hungry detectives。 Had he been less than a man of genius； he might have
taken an unavailing refuge in flight or concealment。 But； content with no
safety unattended by affluence； he devised a surer plan： he became a
householder。 Now； a semi…detached villa is an impregnable stronghold。
Respectability oozes from the dusky mortar of its bricks； and escapes in
clouds of smoke from its soot…grimed chimneys。 No policeman ever
detects a desperate ruffian in a demure black…coated gentleman who day
after day turns an iron gate upon its rusty hinge。 And thus； wrapt in a
cloak of suburban piety； Peace waged a pitiless and effective war upon his
neighbours。
He pillaged Blackheath； Greenwich； Peckham； and many another
home of honest worth； with a noiselessness and a precision that were the
envy of the whole family。 The unknown and intrepid burglar was a terror
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to all the clerkdom of the City； and though he was as secret and secluded
as Peace； the two heroes were never identified。 At the time of his true
eminence he ‘resided' in Evelina Road； Peckham； and none was more
sensible than he how well the address became his provincial refinement。
There he installed himself with his wife and Mrs。 Thompson。 His
drawing… room suite was the envy of the neighbourhood； his pony…trap
proclaimed him a man of substance； his gentle manners won the respect of
all Peckham。 Hither he would invite his friends to such entertainments as
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 unparallel