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Jacob； to whom this once indifferent brother had all at once become
a sort of sweet…tasted fetish； stroked David's best coat with his
adhesive fingers； and then hugged him with an accompaniment of that
mingled chuckling and gurgling by which he was accustomed to express
the milder passions。 But if he had chosen to bite a small morsel
out of his beneficent brother's cheek； David would have been obliged
to bear it。
And here I must pause； to point out to you the short…sightedness of
human contrivance。 This ingenious young man； Mr。 David Faux；
thought he had achieved a triumph of cunning when he had associated
himself in his brother's rudimentary mind with the flavour of yellow
lozenges。 But he had yet to learn that it is a dreadful thing to
make an idiot fond of you； when you yourself are not of an
affectionate disposition： especially an idiot with a pitchfork
obviously a difficult friend to shake off by rough usage。
It may seem to you rather a blundering contrivance for a clever
young man to bury the guineas。 But； if everything had turned out as
David had calculated； you would have seen that his plan was worthy
of his talents。 The guineas would have lain safely in the earth
while the theft was discovered； and David； with the calm of
conscious innocence； would have lingered at home； reluctant to say
good…bye to his dear mother while she was in grief about her
guineas； till at length； on the eve of his departure； he would have
disinterred them in the strictest privacy； and carried them on his
own person without inconvenience。 But David； you perceive； had
reckoned without his host； or； to speak more precisely； without his
idiot brotheran item of so uncertain and fluctuating a character；
that I doubt whether he would not have puzzled the astute heroes of
M。 de Balzac； whose foresight is so remarkably at home in the
future。
It was clear to David now that he had only one alternative before
him： he must either renounce the guineas； by quietly putting them
back in his mother's drawer （a course not unattended with
difficulty）； or he must leave more than a suspicion behind him； by
departing early the next morning without giving notice； and with the
guineas in his pocket。 For if he gave notice that he was going； his
mother； he knew； would insist on fetching from her box of guineas
the three she had always promised him as his share； indeed； in his
original plan； he had counted on this as a means by which the theft
would be discovered under circumstances that would themselves speak
for his innocence； but now； as I need hardly explain； that well…
combined plan was completely frustrated。 Even if David could have
bribed Jacob with perpetual lozenges； an idiot's secrecy is itself
betrayal。 He dared not even go to tea at Mr。 Lunn's； for in that
case he would have lost sight of Jacob； who； in his impatience for
the crop of lozenges； might scratch up the box again while he was
absent； and carry it homedepriving him at once of reputation and
guineas。 No！ he must think of nothing all the rest of this day； but
of coaxing Jacob and keeping him out of mischief。 It was a
fatiguing and anxious evening to David； nevertheless； he dared not
go to sleep without tying a piece of string to his thumb and great
toe； to secure his frequent waking； for he meant to be up with the
first peep of dawn； and be far out of reach before breakfast…time。
His father； he thought； would certainly cut him off with a shilling；
but what then？ Such a striking young man as he would be sure to be
well received in the West Indies： in foreign countries there are
always openingseven for cats。 It was probable that some Princess
Yarico would want him to marry her； and make him presents of very
large jewels beforehand； after which； he needn't marry her unless he
liked。 David had made up his mind not to steal any more； even from
people who were fond of him： it was an unpleasant way of making
your fortune in a world where you were likely to surprised in the
act by brothers。 Such alarms did not agree with David's
constitution； and he had felt so much nausea this evening that no
doubt his liver was affected。 Besides； he would have been greatly
hurt not to be thought well of in the world： he always meant to
make a figure； and be thought worthy of the best seats and the best
morsels。
Ruminating to this effect on the brilliant future in reserve for
him； David by the help of his check…string kept himself on the alert
to seize the time of earliest dawn for his rising and departure。
His brothers； of course； were early risers； but he should anticipate
them by at least an hour and a half； and the little room which he
had to himself as only an occasional visitor； had its window over
the horse…block； so that he could slip out through the window
without the least difficulty。 Jacob； the horrible Jacob； had an
awkward trick of getting up before everybody else； to stem his
hunger by emptying the milk…bowl that was 〃duly set〃 for him； but of
late he had taken to sleeping in the hay…loft； and if he came into
the house； it would be on the opposite side to that from which David
was making his exit。 There was no need to think of Jacob； yet David
was liberal enough to bestow a curse on himit was the only thing
he ever did bestow gratuitously。 His small bundle of clothes was
ready packed； and he was soon treading lightly on the steps of the
horse…block； soon walking at a smart pace across the fields towards
the thicket。 It would take him no more than two minutes to get out
the box； he could make out the tree it was under by the pale strip
where the bark was off； although the dawning light was rather dimmer
in the thicket。 But what； in the name ofburnt pastrywas that
large body with a staff planted beside it； close at the foot of the
ash…tree？ David paused； not to make up his mind as to the nature of
the apparitionhe had not the happiness of doubting for a moment
that the staff was Jacob's pitchforkbut to gather the self…command
necessary for addressing his brother with a sufficiently honeyed
accent。 Jacob was absorbed in scratching up the earth； and had not
heard David's approach。
〃I say； Jacob；〃 said David in a loud whisper； just as the tin box
was lifted out of the hole。
Jacob looked up； and discerning his sweet…flavoured brother； nodded
and grinned in the dim light in a way that made him seem to David
like a triumphant demon。 If he had been of an impetuous
disposition； he would have snatched the pitchfork from the ground
and impaled this fraternal demon。 But David was by no means
impetuous； he was a young man greatly given to calculate
consequences； a habit which has been held to be the foundation of
virtue。 But somehow it had not precisely that effect in David： he
calculated whether an action would harm himself； or whether it would
only harm other people。 In the former case he was very timid about
satisfying his immediate desires； but in the latter he would risk
the result with much courage。
〃Give it me； Jacob；〃 he said； stooping down and patting his brother。
〃Let us see。〃
Jacob； finding the lid rather tight； gave the box to his brother in
perfect faith。 David raised the lids and shook his head； while
Jacob put his finger in and took out a guinea to taste whether the
metamorphosis into lozenges was complete and satisfactory。
〃No； Jacob； too soon； too soon；〃 said David； when the guinea had
been tasted。 〃Give it me； we'll go and bury it somewhere else；
we'll put it in yonder；〃 he added； pointing vaguely toward the
distance。
David screwed on the lid； while Jacob； looking grave； rose and
grasped his pitchfork。 Then； seeing David's bundle； he snatched it；
like a too officious Newfoundland； stuck his pitchfork into it and
carried it over his shoulder in triumph as he accompanied David and
the box out of the thicket。
What on earth was David to do？ It would have been easy to frown at
Jacob； and kick him； and order him to get away； but David dared as
soon have kicked the bull。 Jacob was quiet as long as he was
treated indulgently； but on the slightest show of anger； he became
unmanageable； and was liable to fits of fury which would have made
him formidable even without his pitchfork。 There was no mastery to
be obtained over him except by kindness or guile。 David tried
guile。
〃Go； Jacob；〃 he said； when they were out of the thicketpointing
towards the house as he spoke； 〃go and fetch me a spadea spade。
But give ME the bundle；〃 he added； trying to reach it from the fork；
where it hung high above Jacob's tall shoulder。
But Jacob showed as much alacrity in obeying as a wasp shows in
leaving a sugar…basin。 Near David； he felt himself in the vicinity
of lozenges： he chuckled and rubbed his brother's back； brandishing
the bundle higher out of reach。 David； with an inward groan；
changed his tactics； and walked on as fast as h