As for Stokes, I suppose I must prosecute--'
The detective raised a hand in protest.
'Pardon my interruption, sir, but I really should advise you not to
prosecute.'
'Indeed! Why?'
'It is this way. If you prosecute, you get the man his term of
imprisonment. A year, probably. Well and good. But then what happens?
After his sentence has run out, he comes out of prison an ex-convict.
Tries to get work. No good. Nobody will look at him. Asks for a job.
People lock up their spoons and shout for the police. What happens
then? Not being able to get work, tries another burglary. Being a
clumsy hand at the game, gets caught again and sent back to prison, and
so is ruined and becomes a danger to society. Now, if he is let off
this time, he will go straight for the rest of his life. Run a mile to
avoid a silver cup. He's badly scared, and I took the opportunity of
scaring him more. Told him nothing would happen this time, if the cups
came back safely, but that he'd be watched ever afterwards to see he
did not get into mischief. Of course he won't really be watched, you
understand, but he thinks he will.
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