Had he paused to think, Bindle would have seen that stealing was crime;
but his incurable love of adventure blinded him to all else.

"Funny thing," he mumbled as he walked down Fenton Street. "Funny
thing, a daughter o' the Lord wantin' me to steal. Wonder wot ole
'Earty 'ud say."

CHAPTER II

A NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE

I

Having exchanged the clock for seven shillings and badly beaten the
pawnbroker's assistant in a verbal duel, Bindle strolled along towards
Walham Green in the happiest frame of mind.

The night was young, it was barely nine o'clock, and his whole being
yearned for some adventure. He was still preoccupied with the subject
of larceny. His wits, Bindle argued, were of little or no use in the
furniture-removing business, where mediocrity formed the standard of
excellence. There would never be a Napoleon of furniture-removers, but
there had been several Napoleons of crime. If a man were endowed with
genius, he should also be supplied with a reasonable outlet for it.

Walking meditatively along the North End Road, he was awakened to
realities by his foot suddenly striking against something that jingled.
He stooped and picked up two keys attached to a ring, which he swiftly
transferred to one of his pockets and passed on. Someone might be
watching him.

Two minutes later he drew forth his find for examination. Attached to
the ring was a metal tablet, upon which were engraved the words: "These
keys are the property of Professor Sylvanus Conti, 13 Audrey Mansions,
Queen's Club, West Kensington, W. Reward for their return, 2s. 6d."

The keys were obviously those of the outer door of a block of mansions
and the door of a flat. If they were returned the reward was two
shillings and sixpence, which would bring up the day's takings to nine
shillings and sixpence. If, on the other hand, the keys were retained
for the purpose of----

At that moment Bindle's eye caught sight of a ticket upon a stall
littered with old locks and keys, above which blazed and spluttered a
paraffin torch. "Keys cut while you wait," it announced. Without a
moment's hesitation he slipped the two keys from their ring and held
them out to the proprietor of the stall.

"'Ow much to make two like 'em, mate?" he enquired. The man took the
keys, examined them for a moment, and replied:

"One an' thruppence from you, capt'in."

"Well, think o' me as a pretty girl an' say a bob, an' it's done,"
replied Bindle.