The Lock and Key Library: Classic Mystery and Detective Stories: Old Time English
General
The Lock and Key Library: Classic Mystery and Detective Stories: Old Time English
Detective and mystery stories; Fiction; Ghost stories
That certainty of being found out must haunt and depress many a
bold braggadocio spirit. Let us say it is a clergyman, who can
pump copious floods of tears out of his own eyes and those of his
audience. He thinks to himself, "I am but a poor swindling,
chattering rogue. My bills are unpaid. I have jilted several
women whom I have promised to marry. I don't know whether I
believe what I preach, and I know I have stolen the very sermon
over which I have been sniveling. Have they found me out?" says
he, as his head drops down on the cushion.
Then your writer, poet, historian, novelist, or what not? The
Beacon says that "Jones's work is one of the first order." The
Lamp declares that Jones's tragedy surpasses every work since the
days of Him of Avon." The Comet asserts that "J's 'Life of Goody
Twoshoes' is a [Greek text omitted], a noble and enduring monument
to the fame of that admirable Englishwoman," and so forth. But
then Jones knows that he has lent the critic of the Beacon five
pounds; that his publisher has a half share in the Lamp; and that
the Cornet comes repeatedly to dine with him. It is all very well.
Jones is immortal until he is found out; and then down comes the
extinguisher, and the immortal is dead and buried. The idea (dies
irae!) of discovery must haunt many a man, and make him uneasy, as
the trumpets are puffing in his triumph. Brown, who has a higher
place than he deserves, cowers before Smith, who has found him out.
What is the chorus of critics shouting "Bravo"?--a public clapping
hands and flinging garlands? Brown knows that Smith has found him
out. Puff, trumpets! Wave, banners! Huzza, boys, for the
immortal Brown! This is all very well," B. thinks (bowing the
while, smiling, laying his hand to his heart); "but there stands
Smith at the window: HE has measured me; and some day the others
will find me out too." It is a very curious sensation to sit by a
man who has found you out, and who, as you know, has found you out;
or, vice versa, to sit with a man whom YOU have found out. His
talent? Bah! His virtue? We know a little story or two about his
virtue, and he knows we know it. We are thinking over friend
Robinson's antecedents, as we grin, bow and talk; and we are both
humbugs together. Robinson a good fellow, is he? You know how he
behaved to Hicks? A good-natured man, is he? Pray do you remember
that little story of Mrs. Robinson's black eye? How men have to
work, to talk, to smile, to go to bed, and try and sleep, with this
dread of being found out on their consciences! Bardolph, who has
robbed a church, and Nym, who has taken a purse, go to their usual
haunts, and smoke their pipes with their companions. Mr. Detective
Bullseye appears, and says, "Oh, Bardolph! I want you about that
there pyx business!" Mr. Bardolph knocks the ashes out of his
pipe, puts out his hands to the little steel cuffs, and walks away
quite meekly. He is found out. He must go. "Good-by, 'Doll
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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