Nolessremarkablethanhisskillanddaringwerehismeansofevasion.Evenwithoutaformaldisguisehecouldeludepursuit.Ataninstant\'swarning,hisloose,plasticfeatureswouldassumeanothershape;outshothislowerjaw,and,asifbymagic,thebloodflewintohisfaceuntilyoumighttakehimforamulatto.Or,ifhechose,hewouldstraphisarmtohisside,andletthepolicebebaffledbyawoodenmechanism,decentlyfinishedwithahook.ThusheroamedLondonupanddownunsuspected,andevenafterhislastfailureatBlackheath,nonewouldhavediscoveredCharlesPeaceinJohnWard,theSingle-
HandedBurglar,hadnotwoman\'streacheryprompteddetection.
Indeed,hewasanepitomeofhiscraft,theCompleteBurglarmademanifest.
Notonlydidheplanhisvictorieswithpreviousingenuity,buthesacrificedtohissuccessbothtasteandsentiment.Hisdresswasalwaysofthemostsombre;hisonlywearwasthedecentblackofeverydaygodliness.Theleastspiceofdandyismmighthavedistinguishedhimfromhisfellows,andPeace\'swholevanitylayinhiscraft.Nordidthepaltrysentimentoffriendshipdeterhimfromhisjustcourse.Whenthepanicarousedbythesilentburglarwasuncontrolled,aneighbourconsultedPeaceconcerningthesafetyofhishouse.Therobber,havingdulynotedthevilla\'simperfections,andhavingdiscoveredthehiding-placeofjewelleryandplate,complacentlyrifleditthenextnight.
Thoughhisself-esteemsustainedashock,thoughhenceforthhisfriendthoughtmeanlyofhisjudgment,hewasrewardedwiththesolidpuddingofplunder,andtheworldwhisperedofthemysteriousmarauderwithayetcolderhorror.Intruth,thelargesimplicityandsolitudeofhisstylesetshimamongtheClassics,andthoughothershavesurpassedhimatsinglepointsofthegame,hepractisedtheartwithsuchuniversalbreadthandcourageaswerethenarevolution,andarestillunsurpassed.