to quit the North for good and begin life afresh in the ampler
and safer field of London.


II

PEACE IN LONDON


Peace's career in London extended over nearly two years, but they
were years of copious achievement. In that comparatively short
space of time, by the exercise of that art, to his natural gifts
for which he had now added the wholesome tonic of experience,
Peace passed from a poor and obscure lodging in a slum in Lambeth
to the state and opulence of a comfortable suburban residence in
Peckham. These were the halcyon days of Peace's enterprise in
life. From No. 25 Stangate Street, Lambeth, the dealer in
musical instruments, as Peace now described himself, sallied
forth night after night, and in Camberwell and other parts of
South London reaped the reward of skill and vigilance in entering
other people's houses and carrying off their property. Though in
the beginning there appeared to be but few musical instruments in
Stangate Street to justify his reputed business, "Mr. Thompson,"
as he now called himself, explained that he was not wholly depen-

dent on his business, as Mrs. Thompson "had money."

So successful did the business prove that at the Christmas of
1877 Peace invited his daughter and her betrothed to come from
Hull and spend the festive season with him. This, in spite of