inventiveness, their amazing knowledge of human psychology, their self-possession, their fearlessness, their incomparable histrionic powers!  What extraordinary benefits they would bring to the country!’ But it is well known that the bourgeois paterfamilias was specially devised by Heaven to utter commonplaces and trivialities.  I myself sometimes—­we thieves are sentimental people, I confess—­I myself sometimes admire a beautiful sunset in Aleksandra Park or by the sea-shore.  And I am always certain beforehand that some one near me will say with infallible aplomb:  ’Look at it.  If it were put into picture no one would ever believe it!’ I turn round and naturally I see a self-satisfied, full-fed paterfamilias, who delights in repeating some one else’s silly statement as though it were his own.  As for our dear country, the bourgeois paterfamilias looks upon it as though it were a roast turkey.  If you’ve managed to cut the best part of the bird for yourself, eat it quietly in a comfortable corner and praise God.  But he’s not really the important person.  I was led away by my detestation of vulgarity and I apologise for the digression.  The real point is that genius and inspiration, even when they are not devoted to the service of the Orthodox Church, remain rare and beautiful things.  Progress is a law—­and theft too has its creation.

“Finally, our profession is by no means as easy and pleasant as it seems to the first glance.  It demands long experience, constant practice, slow and painful apprenticeship.  It comprises in itself hundreds of supple, skilful processes that the cleverest juggler cannot compass.  That I may not give you only empty words, gentlemen, I will perform a few experiments before you now.  I ask you to have every confidence in the demonstrators.  We are all at present in the enjoyment of legal freedom, and though we are usually watched, and every one of us is known by face, and our photographs adorn the albums of all detective departments, for the time being we are not under the necessity of hiding ourselves from anybody.  If any one of you should recognise any of us in the future under different circumstances, we ask you earnestly always to act in accordance with your professional duties and your obligations as citizens.  In grateful return for your kind attention we have decided to declare your property inviolable, and to invest it with a thieves’ taboo.  However, I proceed to business.”

The orator turned round and gave an order:  “Sesoi the Great, will you come this way!”

An enormous fellow with a stoop, whose hands reached to his knees, without a forehead or a neck, like a big, fair Hercules, came forward.  He grinned stupidly and rubbed his left eyebrow in his confusion.

“Can’t do nothin’ here,” he said hoarsely.

The gentleman in the sandy suit spoke for him, turning to the committee.

“Gentlemen, before you stands a respected member of our association.  His specialty is breaking open safes, iron strong boxes, and other receptacles for monetary tokens.  In his night work he sometimes avails himself of the electric current of the lighting installation for fusing metals.  Unfortunately he has nothing on which he can demonstrate the best items of his repertoire.  He will open the most elaborate lock irreproachably...  By the way, this door here, it’s locked, is it not?”