CHAPTER XXXI. INVOLVES A CRITICAL POSITION

heshutterwithandafterthat,alanterntotracethefootstepswithandafterthat,apitchforktopokethebusheswith.Thisdone,amidstthebreathlessinterestofallbeholders,theycameinagainandMr.GilesandBrittleswereputthroughamelodramaticrepresentationoftheirshareinthepreviousnight’sadventures:whichtheyperformedsomesixtimesover:contradictingeachother,innotmorethanoneimportantrespect,thefirsttime,andinnotmorethanadozenthelast.Thisconsummationbeingarrivedat,BlathersandDuffclearedtheroom,andheldalongcounciltogether,comparedwithwhich,forsecrecyandsolemnity,aconsultationofgreatdoctorsontheknottiestpointinmedicine,wouldbemerechild’splay. Meanwhile,thedoctorwalkedupanddownthenextroominaveryuneasystateandMrs.MaylieandRoselookedon,withanxiousfaces. “Uponmyword,”hesaid,makingahalt,afteragreatnumberofveryrapidturns,“Ihardlyknowwhattodo.” “Surely,”saidRose,“thepoorchild’sstory,faithfullyrepeatedtothesemen,willbesufficienttoexoneratehim.” “Idoubtit,mydearyounglady,”saidthedoctor,shakinghishead.“Idon’tthinkitwouldexoneratehim,eitherwiththem,orwithlegalfunctionariesofahighergrade.Whatishe,afterall,theywouldsay?Arunaway.Judgedbymereworldlyconsiderationsandprobabilities,hisstoryisaverydoubtfulone.” “Youbelieveit,surely?”interruptedRose. “Ibelieveit,strangeasitisandperhapsImaybeanoldfoolfordoingso,”rejoinedthedoctor“butIdon’tthinkitisexactlythetaleforapracticalpolice-officer,nevertheless.” “Whynot?”demandedRose. “Because,myprettycross-examiner,”repliedthedoctor:“because,viewedwiththeireyes,therearemanyuglypointsaboutithecanonlyprovethepartsthatlookill,andnoneofthosethatlookwell.Confoundthefellows,theywillhavethewhyandthewherefore,andwilltakenothingforgranted.Onhisownshowing,yousee,hehasbeenthecompanionofthievesforsometimepasthehasbeencarriedtoapolice-officer,onachargeofpickingagentleman’spockethehasbeentakenaway,forcibly,fromthatgentleman’shouse,toaplacewhichhecannotdescribeorpointout,andofthesituationofwhichhehasnottheremotestidea.HeisbroughtdowntoChertsey,bymenwhoseemtohavetakenaviolentfancytohim,whetherhewillornoandisputthroughawindowtorobahouseandthen,justattheverymomentwhenheisgoingtoalarmtheinmates,andsodotheverythingthatwouldsethimalltorights,thererushesintotheway,ablunderingdogofahalf-bredbutler,andshootshim!Asifonpurposetopreventhisdoinganygoodforhimself!Don’tyouseeallthis?” “Iseeit,ofcourse,”repliedRose,smilingatthedoctor’simpetuosity“butstillIdonotseeanythinginit,tocriminatethepoorchild.” “No,”repliedthedoctor“ofcoursenot!Blessthebrighteyesofyoursex!Theyneversee,whetherforgoodorbad,morethanonesideofanyquestionandthatis,always,theonewhichfirstpresentsitselftothem.” Havinggivenventtothisresultofexperience,thedoctorputhishandsintohispockets,andwalkedupanddowntheroomwithevengreaterrapiditythanbefore. “ThemoreIthinkofit,”saidthedoctor,“themoreIseethatitwilloccasionendlesstroubleanddifficultyifweputthesemeninpossessionoftheboy’srealstory.Iamcertainitwillnotbebelievedandeveniftheycandonothingtohimintheend,stillthedraggingitforward,andgivingpublicitytoallthedoubtsthatwillbecastuponit,mustinterfere,materially,withyourbenevolentplanofrescuinghimfrommisery.” “Oh!whatistobedone?”criedRose.“Dear,dear!whydidtheysendforthesepeople?” “Why,indeed!”exclaimedMrs.Maylie.“Iwouldnothavehadthemhere,fortheworld.” “AllIknowis,”saidMr.Losberne,atlast:sittingdownwithakindofdesperatecalmness,“thatwemusttryandcarryitoffwithaboldface.Theobjectisagoodone,andthatmustbeourexcuse.Theboyhasstrongsymptomsoffeveruponhim,andisinnoconditiontobetalkedtoanymorethat’sonecomfort.Wemustmakethebestofitandifbadbethebest,itisnofaultofours.Comein!” “Well,master,”saidBlathers,enteringtheroomfollowedbyhiscolleague,andmakingthedoorfast,beforehesaidanymore.“Thiswarn’taput-upthing.” “Andwhatthedevil’sa