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Bundy and Philpot took him home； separating from Crass and Easton at the corner of the street where both the latter lived。
Crass felt very full and satisfied with himself。 He had had six and a half pints of beer； and had listened to two selections on the polyphone at a total cost of one penny。
Easton had but a few yards to go before reaching his own house after parting from Crass； but he paused directly he heard the latter's door close； and leaning against a street lamp yielded to the feeling of giddiness and nausea that he had been fighting against all the way home。 All the inanimate objects around him seemed to be in motion。 The lights of the distant street lamps appeared to be floating about the pavement and the roadway rose and fell like the surface of a troubled sea。 He searched his pockets for his handkerchief and having found it wiped his mouth； inwardly congratulating himself that Crass was not there to see him。 Resuming his walk； after a few minutes he reached his own home。 As he passed through； the gate closed of itself after him； clanging loudly。 He went rather unsteadily up the narrow path that led to his front door and entered。
The baby was asleep in the cradle。 Slyme had gone up to his own room； and Ruth was sitting sewing by the fireside。 The table was still set for two persons； for she had not yet taken her tea。
Easton lurched in noisily。 ‘'Ello； old girl！' he cried； throwing his dinner basket carelessly on the floor with an affectation of joviality and resting his hands on the table to support himself。 ‘I've come at last； you see。'
Ruth left off sewing； and； letting her hands fall into her lap； sat looking at him。 She had never seen him like this before。 His face was ghastly pale； the eyes bloodshot and red…rimmed； the lips tremulous and moist； and the ends of the hair of his fair moustache； stuck together with saliva and stained with beer； hung untidily round his mouth in damp clusters。
Perceiving that she did not speak or smile； Easton concluded that she was angry and became grave himself。
‘I've come at last； you see； my dear； better late than never。'
He found it very difficult to speak plainly； for his lips trembled and refused to form the words。
‘I don't know so much about that；' said Ruth； inclined to cry and trying not to let him see the pity she could not help feeling for him。 ‘A nice state you're in。 You ought to be ashamed of yourself。'
Easton shook his head and laughed foolishly。 ‘Don't be angry； Ruth。 It's no good； you know。'
He walked clumsily towards her； still leaning on the table to steady himself。
‘Don't be angry；' he mumbled as he stooped over her； putting his arm round her neck and his face close to hers。 ‘It's no good being angry； you know； dear。'
She shrank away； shuddering with involuntary disgust as he pressed his wet lips and filthy moustache upon her mouth。 His fetid breath； foul with the smell of tobacco and beer； and the odour of the stale tobacco smoke that exuded from his clothes filled her with loathing。 He kissed her repeatedly and when at last he released her she hastily wiped her face with her handkerchief and shivered。
Easton said he did not want any tea； and went upstairs to bed almost immediately。 Ruth did not want any tea either now； although she had been very hungry before he came home。 She sat up very late； sewing； and when at length she did go upstairs she found him lying on his back； partly undressed on the outside of the bedclothes； with his mouth wide open； breathing stertorously。
Chapter 20
The Forty Thieves。 The Battle： Brigands versus Bandits
This is an even more unusually dull and uninteresting chapter； and introduces several matters that may appear to have nothing to do with the case。 The reader is nevertheless entreated to peruse it； because it contains certain information necessary to an understanding of this history。
The town of Mugsborough was governed by a set of individuals called the Municipal Council。 Most of these ‘representatives of the people' were well…to…do or retired tradesmen。 In the opinion of the inhabitants of Mugsborough； the fact that a man had succeeded in accumulating money in business was a clear demonstration of his fitness to be entrusted with the business of the town。
Consequently； when that very able and successful man of business Mr George Rushton was put up for election to the Council he was returned by a large majority of the votes of the working men who thought him an ideal personage 。。。
These Brigands did just as they pleased。 No one ever interfered with them。 They never consulted the ratepayers in any way。 Even at election time they did not trouble to hold meetings： each one of them just issued a kind of manifesto setting forth his many noble qualities and calling upon the people for their votes： and the latter never failed to respond。 They elected the same old crew time after time 。。。
The Brigands committed their depredations almost unhindered； for the voters were engaged in the Battle of Life。 Take the public park for instance。 Like so many swine around a trough … they were so busily engaged in this battle that most of them had no time to go to the park； or they might have noticed that there were not so many costly plants there as there should have been。 And if they had inquired further they would have discovered that nearly all the members of the Town Council had very fine gardens。 There was reason for these gardens being so grand； for the public park was systematically robbed of its best to make them so。
There was a lake in the park where large numbers of ducks and geese were kept at the ratepayers' expense。 In addition to the food provided for these fowl with public money； visitors to the park used to bring them bags of biscuits and bread crusts。 When the ducks and geese were nicely fattened the Brigands used to carry them off and devour them at home。 When they became tired of eating duck or goose； some of the Councillors made arrangements with certain butchers and traded away the birds for meat。
One of the most energetic members of the Band was Mr Jeremiah Didlum； the house…furnisher； who did a large hire system trade。 He had an extensive stock of second…hand furniture that he had resumed possession of when the unfortunate would…be purchasers failed to pay the instalments regularly。 Other of the second…hand things had been purchased for a fraction of their real value at Sheriff's sales or from people whom misfortune or want of employment had reduced to the necessity of selling their household possessions。
Another notable member of the Band was Mr Amos Grinder； who had practically monopolized the greengrocery trade and now owned nearly all the fruiterers' shops in the town。 As for the other shops； if they did not buy their stocks from him … or； rather； the company of which he was managing director and principal shareholder … if these other fruiterers and greengrocers did not buy their stuff from his company； he tried to smash them by opening branches in their immediate neighbourhood and selling below cost。 He was a self…made man： an example of what may be accomplished by cunning and selfishness。
Then there was the Chief of the Band … Mr Adam Sweater； the Mayor。 He was always the Chief； although he was not always Mayor； it being the rule that the latter ‘honour' should be enjoyed by all the members of the Band in turn。 A bright ‘honour'； forsooth！ to be the first citizen in a community composed for the most part of ignorant semi…imbeciles； slaves； slave…drivers and psalm…singing hypocrites。 Mr Sweater was the managing director and principal shareholder of a large drapery business in which he had amassed a considerable fortune。 This was not very surprising； considering that he paid none of his workpeople fair wages and many of them no wages at all。 He employed a great number of girls and young women who were supposed to be learning dressmaking； mantle…making or millinery。 These were all indentured apprentices； some of whom had paid premiums of from five to ten pounds。 They were ‘bound' for three years。 For the first two years they received no wages： the third year they got a shilling or eightpence a week。 At the end of the third year they usually got the sack； unless they were willing to stay on as improvers at from three shillings to four and sixpence per week。
They worked from half past eight in the morning till eight at night； with an interval of an hour for dinner； and at half past four they ceased work for fifteen minutes for tea。 This was provided by the firm … half a pint for each girl； but they had to bring their own milk and sugar and bread and butter。
Few of the girls ever learned their trades thoroughly。 Some were taught to make sleeves； others cuffs or button…holes； and so on。 The result was that in a short time each one became very expert and quick at one thing； and although their proficiency in this one thing would never enable them to earn a decent living； it enabled Mr Sweater to make money during the period of their apprenticeship； and that was all he cared about。
Occasionally a girl of intelligence and spirit would insist on the fulfilment of the terms of her indentures； and sometimes