Mr Forder’s desire to keep the matter from being talked about was eminently futile, for Wally and Percy Wheatfield both knew all about it five minutes after Fisher major had discovered the absence of the “suspect.”
By everybody except a very few infatuated persons, such as Yorke and Fisher minor, Rollitt’s flight was taken as conclusive evidence of his guilt.
“If he hadn’t done it, why shouldn’t he stay and face it?” asked Clapperton.
“The wonder to me is,” sneered Dangle, “that he brazened it out as long as he did.”
“Suppose you were in his shoes,” said Yorke, “suspected by every one, with the evidence black against you, and Dangle in charge of the prosecution, how would you like it?”
“If I’m in charge of the prosecution,” said Dangle, colouring up, “it’s because you, whose duty it was to see the matter put right, were doing all you could to shield the scoundrel.”
“I did nothing because I didn’t believe him guilty, and I don’t yet,” said the captain hotly; “and if you call him scoundrel again in my hearing, I’ll knock you down.”
“Keep your temper,” said Dangle, glad, all the same, that there were one or two fellows between him and the captain. “You may not care about the credit of Fellsgarth. We do.”
“You!” retorted Yorke, with such withering contempt that Dangle half wished he had left the matter alone.
“The thing is,” said Ranger, “what is to be done!”