“So, sir,” said Mr. T. when the whisper was done, addressing himself to Hardy, with a voice and manner which, had he been guilty, must have pierced him to the heart, “I find I have been deceived in you; it is but three hours ago that I told your uncle I never had a boy in my school in whom I placed so much confidence; but, after all this show of honour and integrity, the moment my back is turned, you are the first to set an example of disobedience of my orders. Why do I talk of disobeying my commands—you are a thief!”
“I, sir?” exclaimed Hardy, no longer able to repress his feelings.
“You, sir,—you and some others,” said Mr. Trueman, looking round the room with a penetrating glance—“you and some others.”
“Ay, sir,” interrupted Mr. William Power, “get that out of him if you can—ask him.”
“I will ask him nothing; I shall neither put his truth nor his honour to the trial; truth and honour are not to be expected amongst thieves.”
“I am not a thief! I have never had anything to do with thieves,” cried Hardy, indignantly.
“Have you not robbed this old man? Don’t you know the taste of these apples?” said Mr. Trueman, taking one out of the basket.
“No, sir; I do not. I never touched one of that old man’s apples.”
“Never touched one of them! I suppose this is some vile equivocation; you have done worse, you have had the barbarity, the baseness, to attempt to poison his dog; the poisoned meat was found in your pocket last night.”
“The poisoned meat was found in my pocket, sir; but I never intended to poison the dog—I saved his life.”