Glyn Severn's Schooldays Part 51

"Very well, sir. I suppose I have had a little experience acting the part of magistrate in India, where petty thefts are very common; and I have attended trials in England, and have been vain enough to think to myself that I could examine a witness or cross-examine more to the point than I have heard it done in some of our courts."

"Then," said the Doctor, "you were good enough to suggest two or three little things this morning. What should you do first?"

"Well," said the Colonel thoughtfully, "I think, first of all, it is due to those gentlemen who act as your ushers that they should be asked to join in our consultation."

"Certainly. Quite right," said the Doctor, and, ringing the bell, he sent a message by Wrench to the cla.s.s-room, and if the masters were not there, bade the man find them in the grounds.

There was a pause in the proceedings here, during which the Doctor and his visitor chatted about political matters, and the boys sat whispering together about the last match.

But they had not long to wait. Morris came bustling in to bow to the Colonel and take the seat to which the Doctor pointed, while Rampson and Monsieur Brohanne came in together from a walk round the grounds.

Then, after a very few preliminaries, forming a sort of introduction to the masters of the boys' father and guardian, the Colonel spoke about the great unpleasantness of the matter and the Doctor's desire to have what seemed like a cloud hanging over his establishment swept away.

He addressed a few words then to Rampson, who had nothing more to say after declaring his perfect certainty that not one of the boys he had the honour of instructing would have been guilty of such a crime.

Monsieur Brohanne, too, declared himself as lost in astonishment at the trouble which had come upon them like a sudden tempest. No, by his faith, he said, he could not think how such an outrage could have taken place.

Morris was disposed to be more voluble, and the Colonel more ready to examine him, while the master was prompt and eager in his replies, sighing as if with relief as the Colonel at length stopped short and sat patting the carpet with his right toe. "Well, sir," said the Doctor at last, "seeing that, as I told you, I carefully examined the servants, I had plunged as far as this in the mystery before."

"Humph!" grunted the Colonel, with his eyes closed, and Glyn and Singh exchanged glances.

"The servants," said the Colonel softly; "the servants. Doctor, I should like you to ring for that man of yours."

Morris glanced at the Doctor, who bowed his head, and the usher stepped to the bell.

"Oh, father!" cried Glyn excitedly, "pray don't suspect Wrench!"

"Hold your tongue, sir," said the Colonel sternly. "Wait and hear what is said, and don't jump at conclusions."

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE.

UNDER EXAMINATION.

Then there was a tap and Wrench appeared. "Come in, my man," said the Colonel, "and close the door."

Wrench started, turned pale and then red, as he looked sharply at his master, who sat perfectly still and avoided his gaze.

"Come a step nearer, my man," said the Colonel. Wrench gazed at him defiantly, shook himself, jerked up his head, looked hard at the two boys, who were watching him, tightening his lips the while, and then, after taking two steps instead of one, stood facing the Colonel, as much as to say: "Now, ask me as many questions as you like."

"Your master has deputed me, my man, to carry on this investigation, and I should be obliged by your replying in a straightforward, manly way.

You are not before a magistrate, and hence are not sworn. Doctor Bewley gives you an admirable character for honesty and straightforward conduct, and if I ask you questions that sound unpleasant in your ears, don't run away with the idea that it is because you are suspected."

Wrench's manner changed a little, for the references to his uprightness and rect.i.tude sounded pleasant in his ears.

"I give you credit," continued the Colonel, "for being as desirous as these gentlemen here and I am to find out the culprit."

"Yes, sir; certainly, sir, and Mr Singh and Mr Severn, sir, will tell you that I have been as much cut up about it as if the blessed--I beg your pardon, gentlemen--as if the belt had been my own."

"Exactly," said the Colonel. "Now then, it seems that the time when the belt was lost cannot be exactly pointed out, since it may have been taken at one of the times when Mr Singh's travelling-case was left unlocked."

"Oh, sir, but n.o.body ever goes up into his room except the maids and Mrs Hamton and me; and, bless your heart, sir, the Doctor will tell you that he wouldn't doubt any of us to save his life."

"Hah!" said the Colonel. "A good character, my man, is a fine thing.

Now, what about strangers--people from the town--peddlers, or hawkers, or people with books to be subscribed for? You have such people come, I suppose, to the house?"

"Lots of them, sir; but they never come any farther than the door,"

cried Wrench, laughing. "You see, sir, Mr Singh's dormitory is on the first floor of the new building, over the little lecture-hall. n.o.body ever went there."

"Could any strangers come up through the grounds and get into the pa.s.sage or corridor after dusk?"

"No, sir; not without coming through the house. I have laid awake lots of times, sir, trying to put that and that together; but it's all been like a maze, sir--a sort of maze, sir, made like with no way in and no way out."

"Humph!" said the Colonel, looking at the man searchingly. "I have heard of cases where people have come to a house and asked the servants if somebody was at home when the speaker knew that he was out, and then made an excuse to be shown into a room to write a letter to the gentleman, say the Doctor, whom he wanted to see; Did such a thing happen in your recollection? No, no; don't hurry. Tax your memory.-- Ah!--What is it?"

"I've got it, sir!" cried Wrench excitedly.

"Oh!" said the Colonel quietly. "Well, what did happen?"

"To be sure, somebody did come just as you said, sir, as you asked me that question, once. But it hasn't got anything to do with the stealing of that belt."

"Perhaps not," said the Colonel; "but let us hear. You say somebody did once come and ask for the Doctor when he was out?"

"Begging your pardon, sir, no, sir. It wasn't to see the Doctor, sir.

It was on the day when everybody was out, gone to the Strongley cricket-match, and there was n.o.body at home but the maids and me, for Mrs Hamton our housekeeper, sir, had leave from the Doctor to go and see a friend who was ill."

"Well," said the Colonel sharply, "what is it, Glyn?" For the boy had jumped up excitedly.

"That was the day, father, when Singh left the keys in the lock of his box."

"Exactly," said the Colonel. "Sit down, my boy.--Well, my man, whom did this stranger ask to see?"

"Please, sir, it wasn't a stranger; it was a gentleman the Doctor knew, and who came here to dinner once, and he asked for Mr Morris."

"Oh!" cried Morris, springing up. "Impossible!"

"Mr Morris, I must ask you to be silent," said the Colonel sternly.

"But--"

"I will hear anything you have to say, sir, when I have finished with this witness," said the Colonel firmly.--"Go on, my man. Who was this gentleman?"

"Pro--Professor Barlow, sir. No, sir; Professor Barclay, sir. And he said he was very much disappointed, as he had come down expressly from London to see Mr Morris. He said he couldn't stop, but he would write a letter if I would give him pens, ink, and paper."

"Go on," said the Colonel, as the hearers bent forward with eager interest. "Did you supply him with pens, ink, and paper?"

"Yes, sir. You see, he wasn't a stranger, but a friend of master's."