“What a terrible old woman!” said Tom at last. “That Mrs Deane seemed quite frightened of her.”
“Yes; the poor ignorant people here believe that she has the power to do them harm; and in spite of all Mr Maxted tells them, he cannot shake their faith.”
“What shall you do now, uncle?”
“Nothing, my boy, upon second thoughts. I am afraid we should not be able to prove that this young scoundrel did the mischief without calling in the police, and that I am very loth to do.”
“But he ought not to be allowed to go about doing such things as that, uncle,” said Tom warmly. “It gets the wrong people suspected.”
“Yes,” said Uncle Richard dryly; “and perhaps we are suspecting the wrong person now.”
“But who else could it be, uncle?”
“Some tramp perhaps, on the way to London. No, Tom, I don’t think we will waste our time in trying to bring the misdoing home to Mr Pete Warboys, and then appearing before the magistrates to punish him. We had better set to work and polish a new speculum.”
“Then you will make another?” said Tom eagerly.
“Of course, my boy. I shall write off for two fresh discs to-night.”