"Because you told them!"
"No, sir," said Hickey with righteous anger. "You have no right, sir, to say such a thing. On the contrary, I refused to answer one way or the other. You listened this afternoon from your window and you heard exactly my answer. If you will do me the justice, sir, to tell the Doctor what I did say, I shall be very much obliged to you."
"Enough, Hicks," said the head master with a frown. "Answer me directly. Are these watch charms made up out of the original clapper?"
"No, sir."
The Doctor, in his turn, looked amazed.
"Come, Hicks, that is not possible," he said. "I warn you I shall trace them without any difficulty."
Then Hickey smiled, a long delicious smile of culminating triumph. Slowly he drew forth from his pocket an envelope, from which he produced a legal document.
"If you will kindly read this, sir," he said, tending it with deepest respect.
The Doctor took it, glanced curiously at Hickey, and then began to read. Presently his face relaxed, and despite a struggle a smile appeared. Then he handed the document to Mr. Tapping, who read as follows: