“Excuse me, Colonel Severn,” said the Doctor stiffly; “I think the matter is of very great consequence. Not only is it a serious loss—”
The Colonel grunted again.
“But I feel as if the honour and reputation of my school are at stake, and it was for that reason that I wrote and asked you to come down to consult with me as to what steps should be taken now towards the recovery of the belt. This, before placing the matter in the hands of the police.”
“Oh, hang the police!” said the Colonel shortly. “We can settle this little matter, I am sure, without calling in the help of policeman A or Z.”
“I am very glad to hear you say so, Colonel; for it would be most repugnant to me, and painful to my staff of 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.”