There would be something very alluring in the theft of
articles of great value, were it not that, when got, they at once become
almost valueless by the difficulty of dealing with them. Supposing I had
the necklace!"
"I wish you had, Frank."
"I could do nothing with it. Ten sovereigns would go further with me--or
ten shillings. The burden of possessing it would in itself be almost more
than I could bear. The knowledge that I had the thing, and might be
discovered in having it, would drive me mad. By my own weakness I should
be compelled to tell my secret to some one. And then I should never sleep
for fear my partner in the matter should turn against me." How well she
understood it all! How probable it was that Lord George should turn
against her! How exact was Frank's description of that burden of a secret
so heavy that it cannot be borne alone! "A little reflection," continued
Frank, "soon convinces a man that rough downright stealing is an awkward,
foolish trade; and it therefore falls into the hands of those who want
education for the higher efforts of dishonesty. To get into a bank at
midnight and steal what little there may be in the till, or even an armful
of banknotes, with the probability of a policeman catching you as you
creep out of the chimney and through a hole, is clumsy work; but to walk
in amidst the smiles and bows of admiring managers and draw out money over
the counter by thousands and tens of thousands, which you have never put
in and which you can never repay, and which, when all is done, you have
only borrowed--that is a great feat.
Pages:
791
792
793
794
795
796
797
798
799
800
801
802
803
804
805
806
807
808
809
810
811
812
813
814
815