Trust and honesty

Which saying is true? 'Set a thief to catch a thief' comes true: one thief catches another. 'Honour among thieves' does not: she tricked a fellow thief and left him to take the blame. Horace now 'gets very angry when anyone talks about "honour among thieves"'.

Did you suspect her? Look back for the clues: she is amused to meet a burglar; she 'always liked the wrong kind of people'; she has forgotten the numbers of her own safe; she doesn't mind it being broken. But she also acts very much at home. That is why Horace believed her.

Good, but not completely honest. On the surface Horace is respectable and gentle. He steals only from the rich and only for books. But he is still a thief. He is not a typical criminal, and that is what makes him interesting.

Where did he go wrong? A meticulous (very careful) planner, he made two mistakes: he trusted a stranger, and he took off his gloves.

Do good ends excuse wrong means? Horace stole to buy books he loved. Was he unfairly punished, or did he deserve it? Are there times when it is all right to be less than honest? Discuss both sides, and give reasons.