"Why, of course," he said. "Did you not see that? I should have thought anyone—"
"Design," I said again. "Of whom? And why?"
He smiled.
"You are a very innocent young gentleman," he said, "in spite of your dexterity. Of course it was a design; and it nearly deceived even me—"
"My Cousin Tom—" I began.
"Your Cousin Tom is an ass," he said, "a malicious one, no doubt; but a mere tool. I have no doubt he intended to injure you; but he could have done nothing if he had not met with the right man. I have no doubt that he came up with the papers, and gossiped in the coffee-houses till he met other of your enemies: and they have done the rest. But it was Colonel Hoskyns no doubt who manipulated the affair."
"Colonel Hoskyns!" I said. "Why, I have never set eyes on the man before."
"I daresay not," said the page, still smiling. "But I have had his name in my books for a great while."
"Who is he?" I cried. "And what reason had he—"
Mr. Chiffinch shook his head at me lamentably.