“Yes, sir!”
“Are you aware that you have committed a crime?”
“I didn’t know it was a crime, sir. I knew it was wrong, but we just did it for fun.”
“Then let me enlighten you, young man. In trespassing on my lawn with evil intent you committed a misdemeanor, punishable by fine and imprisonment. In breaking my statuary you are guilty of malicious mischief, also punishable by fine and imprisonment. In taking my property and carrying it away you are guilty of the crime of larceny and can be sent to state’s prison for a term of years. What do you think of the situation?”
“I had not thought of it that way, sir.”
Hal’s voice began to show weakness, his face paled a little, and his knees began to tremble at this recital of his offenses against the law, and the possible punishment for them.
“Well,” responded the big man in a voice plainly indicative of increasing anger, “you can think of it that way now. And perhaps you will also be willing to tell me now who your confederates in crime were.” Mr. Barriscale tapped the table more vigorously with his paper-knife, straightened up in his chair, and became peremptory in his anger. “I will find out,” he continued. “They shall all be treated as they deserve to be, every one of them. You say the statue was broken. Who broke it?”
“I don’t know, sir.”
Mr. Barriscale half rose from his chair, his face purple with passion.
“Don’t evade my question, sir,” he cried. “I’ll have none of it! Answer me! Who broke the marble?”