Crime & punishment > Curiosities of crime in Edinburgh during the last thirty years

THE BBOKER’s SECRET.
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“ Just to tell me where the stolen things are, no more.
I don’t want you to confess that you were one of the
robbers,”
“ Do you not ? and you will make me a witness ?”
“I think I will manage that for you, if you don’t
deceive me.”
He thought for a while. “ But I wouldn’t have the
life of a dog were I known as a peacher.”
“ I ’ll take care of you; don’t be afraid, and some¬
thing may be done for you.”
Still doubts, and still the terror of being set upon by
the gang. I could not help pitying the condition of
these slaves to a tyranny that leaves them no chance of
penitence or amendment; but seeing the turning-point—
the assurance of security—he was easily screwed up, yet
I was, by his very first words of disclosure, discomfited.
Looking up in my face,—
“ It’s no use,” he said.
“What do you mean?” I replied, as I noticed some¬
thing like a mysterious look about him.
“ Why, the things,” said he, as if it was a revelation
of something very dark, “ are beyond the reach of any¬
one. Hamilton has got them, and we all know that
when he has them they never can be found.”
“ That’s Hamilton the hawking broker in the Canon-
gate,” said I.
“Yes; but you don’t know,” he continued, “that
Hamilton has a secret place in his house, which no man
has ever found, and nobody will ever find, where he puts