“Who says he did?” quickly asked Tom Channing.
“Some one said so; and that he was afraid to tell.”
Gaunt lifted his finger, and made a sign to Charles to approach. “Now, boy”—as the latter obeyed—“you will answer me, remember. The master has called the seniors to his aid, and I order you to speak. Did you see this mischief done?”
“No, I did not!” fearlessly replied little Channing.
“If he doesn’t know, he suspects,” persisted Hurst. “Come, Miss Channing.”
“We don’t declare things upon suspicion, do we, Mr. Gaunt?” appealed Charles. “I may suspect one; Hurst may suspect another; Bywater said he suspected two; the whole school may be suspicious, one of another. Where’s the use of that?”
“It is of no use,” decided Gaunt. “You say you did not see the surplice damaged?”
“I did not; upon my word of honour.”
“That’s enough,” said Gaunt. “Depend upon it, the fellow, while he was at it, took precious good precautions against being seen. When he gets found out, he had better not come within reach of the seniors; I warn him of that: they might not leave him a head on his shoulders, or a tooth in his mouth.”
“Suppose it should turn out to have been a senior, Mr. Gaunt?” spoke Bywater.