CHAPTER XXXI. INVOLVES A CRITICAL POSITION

on,sir.” “Thoughtitwaswhatboy?”inquiredtheseniorofficer. “Thehousebreaker’sboy,sir!”repliedGiles.“They—theycertainlyhadaboy.” “Well?Doyouthinksonow?”inquiredBlathers. “Thinkwhat,now?”repliedGiles,lookingvacantlyathisquestioner. “Thinkit’sthesameboy,Stupid-head?”rejoinedBlathers,impatiently. “Idon’tknowIreallydon’tknow,”saidGiles,witharuefulcountenance.“Icouldn’tsweartohim.” “Whatdoyouthink?”askedMr.Blathers. “Idon’tknowwhattothink,”repliedpoorGiles.“Idon’tthinkitistheboyindeed,I’malmostcertainthatitisn’t.Youknowitcan’tbe.” “Hasthismanbeena-drinking,sir?”inquiredBlathers,turningtothedoctor. “Whatapreciousmuddle-headedchapyouare!”saidDuff,addressingMr.Giles,withsupremecontempt. Mr.Losbernehadbeenfeelingthepatient’spulseduringthisshortdialoguebuthenowrosefromthechairbythebedside,andremarked,thatiftheofficershadanydoubtsuponthesubject,theywouldperhapsliketostepintothenextroom,andhaveBrittlesbeforethem. Actinguponthissuggestion,theyadjournedtoaneighbouringapartment,whereMr.Brittles,beingcalledin,involvedhimselfandhisrespectedsuperiorinsuchawonderfulmazeoffreshcontradictionsandimpossibilities,astendedtothrownoparticularlightonanything,butthefactofhisownstrongmystificationexcept,indeed,hisdeclarationsthatheshouldn’tknowtherealboy,ifhewereputbeforehimthatinstantthathehadonlytakenOlivertobehe,becauseMr.GileshadsaidhewasandthatMr.Gileshad,fiveminutespreviously,admittedinthekitchen,thathebegantobeverymuchafraidhehadbeenalittletoohasty. Amongotheringenioussurmises,thequestionwasthenraised,whetherMr.Gileshadreallyhitanybodyanduponexaminationofthefellowpistoltothatwhichhehadfired,itturnedouttohavenomoredestructiveloadingthangunpowderandbrownpaper:adiscoverywhichmadeaconsiderableimpressiononeverybodybutthedoctor,whohaddrawntheballabouttenminutesbefore.Uponnoone,however,diditmakeagreaterimpressionthanonMr.Gileshimselfwho,afterlabouring,forsomehours,underthefearofhavingmortallywoundedafellow-creature,eagerlycaughtatthisnewidea,andfavouredittotheutmost.Finally,theofficers,withouttroublingthemselvesverymuchaboutOliver,lefttheChertseyconstableinthehouse,andtookuptheirrestforthatnightinthetownpromisingtoreturnthenextmorning. Withthenextmorning,therecamearumour,thattwomenandaboywereinthecageatKingston,whohadbeenapprehendedovernightundersuspiciouscircumstancesandtoKingstonMessrs.BlathersandDuffjourneyedaccordingly.Thesuspiciouscircumstances,however,resolvingthemselves,oninvestigation,intotheonefact,thattheyhadbeendiscoveredsleepingunderahaystackwhich,althoughagreatcrime,isonlypunishablebyimprisonment,andis,inthemercifuleyeoftheEnglishlaw,anditscomprehensiveloveofalltheKing’ssubjects,heldtobenosatisfactoryproof,intheabsenceofallotherevidence,thatthesleeper,orsleepers,havecommittedburglaryaccompaniedwithviolence,andhavethereforerenderedthemselvesliabletothepunishmentofdeathMessrs.BlathersandDuffcamebackagain,aswiseastheywent. Inshort,aftersomemoreexamination,andagreatdealmoreconversation,aneighbouringmagistratewasreadilyinducedtotakethejointbailofMrs.MaylieandMr.LosberneforOliver’sappearanceifheshouldeverbecalleduponandBlathersandDuff,beingrewardedwithacoupleofguineas,returnedtotownwithdividedopinionsonthesubjectoftheirexpedition:thelattergentlemanonamatureconsiderationofallthecircumstances,incliningtothebeliefthattheburglariousattempthadoriginatedwiththeFamilyPetandtheformerbeingequallydisposedtoconcedethefullmeritofittothegreatMr.ConkeyChickweed. Meanwhile,OlivergraduallythroveandprosperedundertheunitedcareofMrs.Maylie,Rose,andthekind-heartedMr.Losberne.Ifferventprayers,gushingfromheartsoverchargedwithgratitude,beheardinheaven—andiftheybenot,whatprayersare!—theblessingswhichtheorphanchildcalleddownuponthem,sunkintotheirsouls,diffusingpeaceandhappiness.