"Look here, Mr. Murphy, I have told you over and over again, I can't have them things in my house. You will be caught like Mr. Hodder was when he stole the big gold coffee pot from over the grocer's door, and a bobby as didn't know him, and wouldn't take no bribe, run him into Bow Street, and if he hadn't been the son of a member of Parliament, and known to the beak, he'd 'a had to 'a gone to jail, he would; for the grocer was mortal angry, as he had had two coffee pots and a bell handle stole the winter before, and he always suspected the students. No! I draws the line at things like this. I have too much respect for you, and the character of my house, to harbour the likes of 'em, so don't do it." Not even "a toothful of summat short," as Murphy phrased it, could appease the good woman. "No, bell-handles and sich is good enough sport," she persisted, "for anybody. I have nothing to say agen them; you gents must have your larks, and bell-handles and knockers goes in your pockets, but I draws the line at these here; take it away. Stay, I'll put it in the cellar. Why, the taxes, or the gas, or the water rate might see it, and give information. They're none of 'em any too fond of you boys, and they are quite equal to it." And so with much regret, Murphy gave up his "Desirable Villa Residence," merely extorting a promise that it might appear on the mantel for one night only--the "trophy supper" he was to give at the end of the winter session, when he was to exhibit his museum of stolen curiosities to his companions in the midnight revels.
Murphy was very proud of his museum. He had twenty-nine brass and iron knockers, fifty-seven bell-handles, fourteen brass door-plates, three small and very neat Royal Arms, gilt and coloured, one pretty figure of a Scotchman in Highland costume taking a pinch of snuff, several gilt carved wood letters, which once formed parts of names over shop doors, and this latest acquisition, the "Villa Residence" board. Everything was neatly labelled and numbered, and a register kept, recording in the most methodical manner the story of its capture. Many hair-breadth escapes were recalled by a glance at some of these treasures; and to hear little Jack Murphy tell some of the stories connected with them was a treat that many a freshman yearned for with all his heart. Most of the men would rather have had the honour of which this stolen hardware was the symbol than all the medals and certificates of honour the hospital could bestow. Their friends sent them to earn these latter--that was task-work; their own inclination and Bohemian instincts urged the acquisition of bell-handles and door-knockers--in this was danger, and their love of surmounting it was gratified. They had yet to learn the nobler outlets for sentiments that have made the name of Englishman a proud distinction, especially in the practice of a profession on which they have shed so much glory.