'And what is that?'

'To make the resolution, to give me your word, now, here, that as
soon as possible you will give up this life of crime, leave this
odious lair, and seek your living among honest men.'

'Ah,' his companion replied, with a deep sigh, 'you ask me to do
what is impossible.'

'And why impossible? Is it that you are too deeply attached to the
ties of this place, to your mode of life, to break the one and give
up the other?'

'It is not that; no, indeed. But what would become of me were I to
leave this place? I am not so good at disguises as the rest. I would
certainly be caught and given to the gallows.'

'You will allow that I know as much, at least, as you can know on
this matter. I do not consider the risk great at all. Your disguise
would carry you through Canadian territory, and once in the United
States you would be free to go among good men and earn your bread. It
is true that you never can make thorough reparation for all the
crimes to which you have been an accessory, or all the misery that
you have helped to create. But you can atone to some extent for the
past. You have many gifts, and I am sure that you would win a
comfortable position for yourself in a world that guessed nothing of
the early chapters of your history.

'Suppose that instead of doing this you elect to remain here. There
is one chance that you may go free through all the dangers of your