“I suppose that’s about the way it goes,” Thad admitted.

“There’s no doubt of it,” Hugh told him.  “Several times I remember we had an idea Nick meant to reform; but he went back to his old ways suddenly.  I think people must have nagged him, and made him feel ugly.  But I’ve been wondering, Thad, what if Nick could have a revelation about like the one that came to Jean Valjean at the time that splendid old priest, looking straight at the thief when the officers dragged him back with those silver candlesticks and spoons hidden under his dirty blouse, told them the men had committed no wrong, because he, the priest, had given the silver to him; which we know he had done in his mind, after discovering how he had been robbed.”

Thad shook his head in a dogged fashion, as though by no means convinced.

“I reckon you’d be just the one to try that crazy scheme, Hugh, if ever the chance came to you; but mark me when I say it’d all be wasted on Nick.”

“But why should you be so sure of that?” asked the other.  “The ex-convict was pictured as the lowest of human animals.  Hugo painted him as hating every living being, because of his own wrongs; and believing that there was no such thing as honor and justice among mankind.  It was done to make his change of heart seem all the more remarkable; to prove that a fellow can never sink so low but that there may be a chance for him to climb up again, if only he makes up his mind.”

Thad laughed then, a little skeptically still, it must be confessed.

“Oh! that sounds all very fine, in a story, Hugh, but it’d never work out in real life.  According to my mind that Nick Lang will go along to the end of the book as a bad egg.  He’ll fetch up in the penitentiary, or reform school, some of these fine days.  I’ve heard Chief Wambold has declared that the next time he has anything connected with breaking the law on Nick he expects to take him before the Squire, and have him railroaded to the Reformatory; and he means it, too.”

“Well, you can hardly blame the Chief,” agreed Hugh, “because Nick and his pals, Leon Disney and Tip Slavin, have certainly made life hard for the police force of Scranton for years back.  Brush fires have been started maliciously, just to see the fire-laddies run with the machine and create a little excitement; orchards have been robbed time and again; and, in fact, dozens of pranks more or less serious been played night after night, all of which mischief is laid at the door of Nick Lang, even if much of it can’t be actually traced there.”

“Of course, what you say is the exact truth, Hugh.”

“Give dog Tray a bad name, and he gets it right and left,” chuckled Hugh.  “I’ve had an idea that once in a while some of the more respected fellows in town may have broken loose, and gone on night expeditions.  They felt pretty safe in doing it, because every citizen would believe Nick was the guilty one.  But, in spite of your thinking my idea impossible, I’d be tempted to try it out, if ever I ran across the chance.  It’d settle a thing I’ve worried over more than a little.”