Be grateful for villainy, I thought. The jobs of millions depended on it, Gerard's included. Police, lawyers, tax inspectors, prison warders, court officials, security guards, locksmiths and people making burglar alarms. Where would they be the world over but for the multiple faces of Cain. "Gerard," I said.
In Dick Francis's book "Proof," the narrator reflects on the essential role of villainy in society. He recognizes that a wide array of professions rely on crime and its consequences. This includes law enforcement officials, legal experts, and security personnel, all of whom have careers tied to the existence of criminal activities. The notion that villainy sustains numerous jobs prompts him to adopt a sense of gratitude towards it. The narrator's conversation with Gerard highlights this irony, suggesting that the structural fabric of society is intertwined with criminality. Without such wrongdoing, many individuals would find themselves without employment, illustrating the complex relationship between ethics and economic stability. This perspective evokes a deeper understanding of how crime, while harmful, also propels various sectors of the economy.
