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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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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 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
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
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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
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well…mannered； cultured； with scarce a touch of provincialism to mar his
gay demeanour： whereas Peace knew little enough outside the practi