'And here are the same stains upon this stick!' said Jasper, taking
it from the hand of the man who held it. 'I know the stick to be
his, and he carried it last night. What does this mean?'
'In the name of God, say what it means, Neville!' urged Mr.
Crisparkle.
'That man and I,' said Neville, pointing out his late adversary,
'had a struggle for the stick just now, and you may see the same
marks on him, sir. What was I to suppose, when I found myself
molested by eight people? Could I dream of the true reason when
they would give me none at all?'
They admitted that they had thought it discreet to be silent, and
that the struggle had taken place. And yet the very men who had
seen it looked darkly at the smears which the bright cold air had
already dried.
'We must return, Neville,' said Mr. Crisparkle; 'of course you will
be glad to come back to clear yourself?'
'Of course, sir.'
'Mr. Landless will walk at my side,' the Minor Canon continued,
looking around him. 'Come, Neville!'
They set forth on the walk back; and the others, with one
exception, straggled after them at various distances. Jasper
walked on the other side of Neville, and never quitted that
position. He was silent, while Mr. Crisparkle more than once
repeated his former questions, and while Neville repeated his
former answers; also, while they both hazarded some explanatory
conjectures.
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