Even the little sharp-faced clerk would stand
and peep at it, utterly puzzled between what he knew and what he eyed:
nor could he look at that head and face without excusing them. What a lot
of money they must have sunk before they came down to fabricating a
balance-sheet!
And by-and-bye custom somewhat blunted his sense of the dishonesty, and
he began to criticise the thing arithmetically instead of morally. That
view once admitted, he was charmed with the ability and subtlety of his
dignified sharper; and so the mole-catcher began gradually, but
effectually, to be corrupted by the mole. He who watches a dishonest
process and does not stop it, is half way towards conniving: who
connives, is half way towards abetting.
The next thing was, Skinner felt mortified at his master not trusting
him. Did he think old Bob Skinner's son would blow on Hardie after all
these years?
This rankled a little, and set him to console himself by admiring his own
cleverness in penetrating this great distrustful man. Now of all
sentiments, Vanity is the most restless and the surest to peep out.
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