assistants, and for my
pupils, I may add. There are the servants too, and the publicity in the
town, where I am afraid the matter is too much talked about already.
You think, then, that we may dispense with the police?"

"Certainly," said the Colonel; "unless," he added drily, "Singh here
wants the business carried to the bitter end."

"I, sir? Oh no!" cried Singh. "If I could do as I liked I wouldn't
have another word said about it. I hate the old belt. Can't even think
of it without seeming to have a nasty taste in my mouth."

"Oh," said the Colonel; "but we can't stop like that. I think, for
every one's sake, the shoe should be put on the right foot.--What do you
say, Dr Bewley?"

"I quite agree with you, sir. We have talked the matter pretty well
over this morning, and I have told you what I have done. I was bound to
question the servants, though all of them have been with me for years,
and I have perfect confidence in their honesty. As to my pupils, I
could not examine and cross-examine every boy. It would have been like
expressing a doubt of every little fellow's truth. It has been a most
painful thing for me, sir; and if you can help me or advise me in the
wearisome business, I should be most grateful."

"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 class-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.