I glanced once at Mercer, but he did not meet my eyes, and we took our places as pointed out by Mr Rebble, who then stood waiting, and at last coughed softly.
“Yes, Mr Rebble,” said the Doctor huskily, as he dropped his hand, and I saw that there was a look of pain on his plump face that I had not seen before. “Yes, Mr Rebble, I see. I was trying to arrange my thoughts, so as to meet this painful case calmly. Pray sit down, Mr Rebble—Mr Hasnip.”
The two ushers took chairs, and we boys alone remained standing, while the Doctor cleared his throat, and spoke in a way which drew me toward him as I had never felt drawn before, since, boy-like, I had been rather too apt to look upon my instructor as one of the enemies of my life.
“Gentlemen,” he said, “I look upon what I have learned as a catastrophe to my school, a trouble more painful than I can express, but, for all our sakes, I hope that the dark cloud will prove to be a mist of error, which by calm investigation we shall be able to disperse, for, be it understood, I make no accusation.”
Mr Rebble and Mr Hasnip both coughed, the Doctor sighed, glanced at me, and then went on.
“Burr major, you have already told me that you had a presentation silver watch from your father.”
I had been hoping that I was in error, and that we were called in for reproof about some trivial matter, but now my spirits sank.
“Yes, sir.”
“And that, on the day of the cricket match, you left that watch in your vest on the form at the back of the cricket tent?”
“Yes, sir.”