“Nowt else. An’ they made Sowden tak’ a oath to keep th’ secret an’ sweer all th’ others to keep th’ secret. Everyone i’ th’ shop wer’ sworn. There weren’t a soul i’ all John Wood’s that weren’t sworn. And folk say George held a pistol at Sowden’s head while he read th’ oath off a bit o’ papper an’ made ’em all kiss th’ book.”
We stared at each other blankly.
“But is this known to the Crown?” asked Mr. Webster at length.
“Sowden’s takin’ his tea at this minnit i’ Chester Castle, livin’ o’ th’ fat o’ th’ land, a guest o’ th’ king, feastin’ like a fightin’ cock, an’ yo’ll nivver set eyes on him agen till yo see him i’ th’ witness–box at York ’sizes,” said Jack. “An’ there’s more to tell. They say George borrowed a Russian pistol fra William Hall.”
“Well, I’ll vouch for Hall, ony road, for all awm worth,” I burst out. “He’ll noan turn traitor. He wer’ allus th’ keenest o’ th’ lot on us.”
“Tha’d lose thi brass,” said Jack quietly. “Hall’s sat just nah opposite Sowden, like as not drinkin’ success to honesty. He lent his pistol to George the very day Horsfall wer’ shot, an’ seed him load it with ball an’ slugs.”
“Why Hall lodged at Wood’s an’ slept wi’ George, i’ th’ same room if not i’ th’ same bed,” I murmured.
“Skin for shin, yea all that a man hath will he give for his fife,’ so says the Book.” Thus Mr. Webster.
“And after Horsfall wer’ shot, choose who shot him,” Jack went on. “George Mellor an’ Thorpe went to Joe Mellor’s at Dungeon Wood an’ hid two pistols, an’ one on ’em, they do say, is th’ self–same pistol ’at Hall lent to George afore th’ job wer’ done.”
I do not know whether any of us till then, clung to a hope that George might be cleared of any share in the murder. For my own part I had known from the first minute I set eyes on George when he came to me at Holme the day after the deed, known without a word spoken, that he was guilty. All the same the law’s the law, and it was none of my business to tell what I thought. Thinking’s not evidence, and if there was a loop–hole for him anywhere I’d widen it for him rather than stop it.