“Come a step nearer, my man,” said the Colonel. Wrench gazed at him defiantly, shook himself, jerked up his head, looked hard at the two boys, who were watching him, tightening his lips the while, and then, after taking two steps instead of one, stood facing the Colonel, as much as to say: “Now, ask me as many questions as you like.”
“Your master has deputed me, my man, to carry on this investigation, and I should be obliged by your replying in a straightforward, manly way. You are not before a magistrate, and hence are not sworn. Doctor Bewley gives you an admirable character for honesty and straightforward conduct, and if I ask you questions that sound unpleasant in your ears, don’t run away with the idea that it is because you are suspected.”
Wrench’s manner changed a little, for the references to his uprightness and rectitude sounded pleasant in his ears.
“I give you credit,” continued the Colonel, “for being as desirous as these gentlemen here and I am to find out the culprit.”
“Yes, sir; certainly, sir, and Mr Singh and Mr Severn, sir, will tell you that I have been as much cut up about it as if the blessed—I beg your pardon, gentlemen—as if the belt had been my own.”
“Exactly,” said the Colonel. “Now then, it seems that the time when the belt was lost cannot be exactly pointed out, since it may have been taken at one of the times when Mr Singh’s travelling-case was left unlocked.”
“Oh, sir, but nobody ever goes up into his room except the maids and Mrs Hamton and me; and, bless your heart, sir, the Doctor will tell you that he wouldn’t doubt any of us to save his life.”
“Hah!” said the Colonel. “A good character, my man, is a fine thing. Now, what about strangers—people from the town—peddlers, or hawkers, or people with books to be subscribed for? You have such people come, I suppose, to the house?”
“Lots of them, sir; but they never come any farther than the door,” cried Wrench, laughing. “You see, sir, Mr Singh’s dormitory is on the first floor of the new building, over the little lecture-hall. Nobody ever went there.”
“Could any strangers come up through the grounds and get into the passage or corridor after dusk?”