Roundabout Papers - Penn State University

Roundabout Papersthe evening—and oh, how frightened he was when hecame to learn that his mistress’s box had been conveyedout of her own room, and it contained diamonds—”Law bless us, did it now?” I wonder whether John’ssubsequent career has been prosperous? Perhaps thegentlemen from Bow Street were all in the wrong whenthey agreed in suspecting John as the author of therobbery. His noble nature was hurt at the suspicion.You conceive he would not like to remain in a familywhere they were mean enough to suspect him of stealinga jewel-box out of a bedroom—and the injured manand my relatives soon parted. But, inclining (with myusual cynicism) to think that he did steal the valuables,think of his life for the month or two whilst hestill remains in the service! He shows the officers overthe house, agrees with them that the coup must havebeen made by persons familiar with it; gives them everyassistance; pities his master and mistress with amanly compassion; points out what a cruel misfortuneit is to himself as an honest man, with his living to getand his family to provide for, that this suspicion shouldfall on him. Finally he takes leave of his place, with adeep, though natural melancholy that ever he had acceptedit. What’s a thousand pounds to gentle-folks! Aloss, certainly, but they will live as well without thediamonds as with them. But to John his Hhhonor wasworth more than diamonds, his Hhonor was. Whoheveris to give him back his character? Who is to preventhany one from saying, “Ho yes. This is the footmanwhich was in the family where the diamonds was stole?”&c.I wonder has John prospered in life subsequently? Ifhe is innocent he does not interest me in the least. Theinterest of the case lies in John’s behavior supposinghim to be guilty. Imagine the smiling face, the dailyservice, the orderly performance of duty, whilst withinJohn is suffering pangs lest discovery should overtakehim. Every bell of the door which he is obliged to openmay 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 longceased, and detection is impossible, does he ever revert306