“Well, I do not mind coming to hear what cock-and-bull story you have trumped up,” muttered Saurin, turning away. He feared lest an unguarded word should betray him.
His anxiety was terrible. What did Crawley know? What was mere conjecture? Of course Edwards had put him on the track; but had he done so distinctly, or had this suspicion been aroused by his wandering talk when delirious? Everything might depend on his exercising calm judgment just now, but his head was in a whirl and he could not collect his wits. Should he make a bolt? Oh, no! that would be confessing himself guilty. Should he defy Crawley? That would bring about a trial, in which he might be found guilty. It seemed safest to go to Crawley’s room at twelve and hear what he had to say.
So he went. Robarts and Gould sat on the two chairs with which the room was supplied, Buller perched himself on the table, Smith on a box—all full of curiosity and expectation. Crawley and Saurin remained standing. The door was closed and a mat placed against it, to prevent any sudden entry without warning.
“I am not going to beat about the bush,” said Crawley. “I accuse Saurin there of having come to this house, one Saturday when we were all out; of having gone into my room, taken my keys out of the pocket of a coat lying there, opened the cricket and football japanned box, and abstracted four pounds twelve shillings from a purse inside it. Then I assert that he put the keys back in the coat-pocket, having first locked the box and put it back in its place, and ran back to his tutor’s house, where he changed and went out to play at football. The motive of this theft was that he had been gambling at Slam’s yard, lost all the money he had or could raise; went on playing on credit, lost again, and was threatened with exposure unless he paid up. He had meant to borrow the money he wanted of you, Gould, and came to the house with that intention. But as you were not in, he got it the other way.”
“It is all a pack of lies!” cried Saurin. “At least about robbing, I mean; for it is true that I lost money playing roulette, and that I meant to borrow of Gould, only I squared matters with the man without.”
“What day did you come to apply to me for that loan?” asked Gould.
“I don’t know exactly; it was not on a Saturday I am not sure that I came at all,” replied Saurin, who could not for the life of him help stammering. “It’s all lies; though appearances might be got up against me.”
“They certainly are so already,” said Crawley, “or I should not have accused you. Of course, if you can prove your innocence, or even if you are convinced that no one can prove your guilt, you will prefer to stand a trial. Otherwise you might prefer to pay back the money and leave Weston quietly. What do you say?” he added, turning to the others. “Would it not be best for the credit of the school?”
“Yes, yes,” said Robarts; “let us wash our dirty linen at home.”
“But how am I to leave?” asked Saurin with a groan.