Everything seemed to me as if we were in a dream, and I grew more and
more troubled as we were marched in separately to the Doctor's library,
where to my astonishment I found Burr major and Dicksee standing, while
the Doctor sat back in his big chair, with one hand over his eyes.
I glanced once at Mercer, but he did not meet my eyes, and we took our
places as pointed out by Mr Rebble, who then stood waiting, and at last
coughed softly.
"Yes, Mr Rebble," said the Doctor huskily, as he dropped his hand, and
I saw that there was a look of pain on his plump face that I had not
seen before. "Yes, Mr Rebble, I see. I was trying to arrange my
thoughts, so as to meet this painful case calmly. Pray sit down, Mr
Rebble--Mr Hasnip."
The two ushers took chairs, and we boys alone remained standing, while
the Doctor cleared his throat, and spoke in a way which drew me toward
him as I had never felt drawn before, since, boy-like, I had been rather
too apt to look upon my instructor as one of the enemies of my life.
"Gentlemen," he said, "I look upon what I have learned as a catastrophe
to my school, a trouble more painful than I can express, but, for all
our sakes, I hope that the dark cloud will prove to be a mist of error,
which by calm investigation we shall be able to disperse, for, be it
understood, I make no accusation."
Mr Rebble and Mr Hasnip both coughed, the Doctor sighed, glanced at
me, and then went on.
"Burr major, you have already told me that you had a presentation silver
watch from your father."
I had been hoping that I was in error, and that we were called in for
reproof about some trivial matter, but now my spirits sank.
"Yes, sir."
"And that, on the day of the cricket match, you left that watch in your
vest on the form at the back of the cricket tent?"
"Yes, sir."
"That, when you returned to the tent, and resumed your garments, you
afterwards found the watch gone?"
"Yes, sir."
"That every search was made, and that, though, as you say, you had
suspicions, about which we will talk by and by, that watch was never
found?"
"Yes, sir."