'As to our being a pack of thieves, Mr. Landless,' said the man, as
he spat out some blood, and wiped more from his face; 'you know
better than that at midday. We wouldn't have touched you if you
hadn't forced us. We're going to take you round to the high road,
anyhow, and you'll find help enough against thieves there, if you
want it.--Wipe his face, somebody; see how it's a-trickling down
him!'
When his face was cleansed, Neville recognised in the speaker, Joe,
driver of the Cloisterham omnibus, whom he had seen but once, and
that on the day of his arrival.
'And what I recommend you for the present, is, don't talk, Mr.
Landless. You'll find a friend waiting for you, at the high road--
gone ahead by the other way when we split into two parties--and you
had much better say nothing till you come up with him. Bring that
stick along, somebody else, and let's be moving!'
Utterly bewildered, Neville stared around him and said not a word.
Walking between his two conductors, who held his arms in theirs, he
went on, as in a dream, until they came again into the high road,
and into the midst of a little group of people. The men who had
turned back were among the group; and its central figures were Mr.
Jasper and Mr. Crisparkle. Neville's conductors took him up to the
Minor Canon, and there released him, as an act of deference to that
gentleman.
'What is all this, sir? What is the matter? I feel as if I had
lost my senses!' cried Neville, the group closing in around him.
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