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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 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 to the end； since both died on the scaffold
as becomes a man； the contrast is once more characteristic。 Brodie's
cynicism is a fine foil to the piety of Peace； and while each end was
natural after its own fashion； there is none who will deny to the Scot the
finer sense of fitness。 Nor did any step in their career explain more
clearly the difference in their temperament than their definitions of the
gallows。 For Peace it is ‘a short cut to Heaven'； for Brodie it is ‘a leap in
the dark。' Again the Scot has the advantage。 Again you reflect that； if
Peace is the most accomplished Classic among the housebreakers； the
Deacon is the merriest companion who ever climbed the gallows by the
shoulders of the incomparable Macheath。
135
… 136
A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS
THE MAN IN THE GREY SUIT
THE Abb…le…Berenger。 He counted a dozen Chouans among his
ancestry； and brigandage swam in his blood。 Even his childhood was
crimson with crimes； which the quick memory of the countryside long ago
lost in the pride of having bred a priest。 He stained his first cure of souls
with the poor； sad sin of arson； which the bishop； fearful of scandal and
loth to check a promising career； condoned with a suitable advancement。
At Entrammes； his next benefice； he entered into his full inheritance of
villainy； and here it wasdespite his own protestthat he devised the grey
suit which brought him ruin and immortality。 To the wild； hilarious
dissipation of Laval； the nearest town； he fell an immediate and
unresisting prey。 Think of the glittering lamps； the sparkling taverns； the
bright…eyed women； the manifold fascinations； which are the character and
delight of this forgotten city！ Why； if the Abb disappeared with a
commendable constancy； and with that just sense of secrecy which should
compel even an archiepiscopal admiration。 He was not of those who
would drag his cloth through the mire。 Not until the darkness he loved so
fervently covered the earth would he escape from the dull respectability of
Entrammes； nor did he ever thus escape unaccompanied by his famous
valise。 The grey suit was an effectual disguise to his calling； and so
jealous was he of the Church's honour that he neverunless in his cups
disclosed his tonsure。 One of his innumerable loves confessed in the
witness…box that Bruneau always retained his hat in the glare of the
Caf was never guilty of a meanness。 The less
guilty scheme was speedily staled； and then it was that the Abb was still impoverished。 Already he had