The Sword of Damocles · Chapter
XXII: Hopgood explained
Mrs.
What happens
Mrs. Hopgood complains to Mrs. Kirkshaw about her husband's secretive behavior since Mrs. Sylvester's death. Hopgood, a janitor at the bank, is anxious about a discovery he made in the vaults. He arranges to speak privately with Mr. Sylvester, revealing that he found Mr. Stuyvesant's box unlocked and a toothpick on the floor. Mr. Sylvester, visibly disturbed, questions Hopgood about who else knows and whether anything was missing. Hopgood assures him he has told no one and that nothing appeared to be missing. Mr. Sylvester, deeply affected, disposes of the toothpick and leaves.
Themes in this chapter
Secrets and Past Sins
Hopgood's secret about the unlocked box and Mr. Sylvester's reaction suggest hidden guilt and the weight of undisclosed actions.
Guilt and Redemption
Mr. Sylvester's distress and Hopgood's loyalty hint at a desire to conceal or atone for past wrongs.
Characters to notice
- Hamlet Hopgood
Janitor at the bank, secretive about his discovery, anxious about his position, reveals the unlocked box to Mr. Sylvester.
- Mrs. Kirkshaw
Mrs. Hopgood's crony, offers advice on handling husbands.
- Mrs. Sylvester
Recently deceased, her death is mentioned as a cause of Hopgood's agitation.
- Mr. Sylvester
Visits Hopgood's daughter, questions Hopgood about the vault incident, appears distressed.
- Constantia Maria
Hopgood's young daughter, affectionately attached to Mr. Sylvester.
- Mr. Stuyvesant
His box was found unlocked in the vault, but he did not notice anything missing.
Key passages
“Give it an understanding but no tongue.”
Keep your thoughts to yourself and don't speak of them.
Opening line, sets the tone of secrecy.
“If he would only trust the wife of his bosom with whatever he’s got on his mind, instead of ambling around the building with his eyes rolling about like peas in a cauldron of boiling water, one might manage to take some comfort in life, and not hurt anybody either.”
If he would confide in me instead of pacing nervously, we could both be happier.
Mrs. Hopgood's complaint about her husband's secretive behavior.
“Husbands is like that very stove you’ve been a slanderin of. Rattle on coal when the fire’s low and you put it out entirely; but be a bit patient and drop it on piece by piece, coaxing-like, and you’ll have a hot stove afore you know it.”
Men are like stoves: if you push too hard, you'll extinguish the fire, but with patience you can get what you want.
Mrs. Kirkshaw's advice to Mrs. Hopgood.
“Honesty and prudence are all the treasures I possess to keep us three from starving. Shall I part with either of them just to satisfy your curiosity?”
My integrity and caution are all I have to support our family; I can't risk them for your curiosity.
Hopgood's justification for keeping his secret.
“I should have been obliged to tell him the truth sir; that whereas I had no personal knowledge of anyone but myself, having been to the vaults since the evening before, I was called upon early that morning to open the outside door to you, sir, and that you came into the bank, and finding no one on duty but myself—the watchman having gone upstairs to take his usual cup of coffee before going home for the day—you sent me out of the room on an errand, which delayed me some little time, and that when I came back I found you gone, and everything as I had left it except that small pick lying on the floor.”
If Mr. Stuyvesant had asked, I would have had to say that you were the only one who could have been in the vault that morning, and I found a toothpick on the floor afterward.
Hopgood's confession to Mr. Sylvester about the vault incident.
