English essays -- 19th century; Great Britain -- Social life and customs; London (England) -- Description and travel
of stealing a jewel-box out of a bedroom--and the injured man and my
relatives soon parted. But, inclining (with my usual cynicism) to think
that he did steal the valuables, think of his life for the month or two
whilst he still remains in the service! He shows the officers over the
house, agrees with them that the coup must have been made by persons
familiar with it; gives them every assistance; pities his master and
mistress with a manly compassion; points out what a cruel misfortune it
is to himself as an honest man, with his living to get and his family
to provide for, that this suspicion should fall on him. Finally he takes
leave of his place, with a deep, though natural melancholy that ever
he had accepted it. What's a thousand pounds to gentle-folks! A loss,
certainly, but they will live as well without the diamonds as with them.
But to John his Hhhonor was worth more than diamonds, his Hhonor was.
Whohever is to give him back his character? Who is to prevent hany one
from saying, “Ho yes. This is the footman which was in the family where
the diamonds was stole?” &c.
I wonder has John prospered in life subsequently? If he is innocent
he does not interest me in the least. The interest of the case lies in
John's behavior supposing him to be guilty. Imagine the smiling face,
the daily service, the orderly performance of duty, whilst within John
is suffering pangs lest discovery should overtake him. Every bell of
the door which he is obliged to open may bring a police officer. The
accomplices may peach. What an exciting life John's must have been for a
while. And now, years and years after, when pursuit has long ceased, and
detection is impossible, does he ever revert to the little transaction?
Is it possible those diamonds cost a thousand pounds? What a rogue
the fence must have been who only gave him so and so! And I pleasingly
picture to myself an old ex-footman and an ancient receiver of stolen
goods meeting and talking over this matter, which dates from times so
early that her present Majesty's fair image could only just have begun
to be coined or forged.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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