s, "which proves to me
that Jacob Faithful is the party; in which you and Mrs Bately are shown
up to ridicule. Who would have been aware that the candle went out in
your study, except Jacob Faithful?"

"I perceive," replied the Dominie, looking at it through his spectacles,
when put into his hand, "the arcana of the study have been violated."

"But, sir," continued Mr Knapps, "here is a more convincing proof. You
observe this caricature of yourself, with his own name put to it--his
own handwriting. I recognised it immediately; and happening to turn
over his Cornelius Nepos, observed the first blank leaf torn out. Here
it is, sir, and you will observe that it fits on to the remainder of the
leaf in the book exactly."

"I perceive that it doth; and am grieved to find that such is the case.
Jacob Faithful, thou are convicted of disrespect and of falsehood.
Where is Simon Swapps?"

"If you please, sir, may I not defend myself?" replied I. "Am I to be
flogged unheard?"

"Nay, that were an injustice," replied the Dominie; "but what defence
canst thou offer? _O puer infelix et sceleratus_!"

"May I look at those caricatures, sir?" said I.

The Dominie handed them to me in silence. I looked them all over, and
immediately knew them to be drawn by Barnaby Bracegirdle. The last
particularly struck me. I had felt confounded and frightened with the
strong evidence brought against me; but this re-assured me, and I spoke
boldly. "These drawings are by Barnaby Bracegirdle, sir, and not by me.
I never drew a caricature in my life."

"So didst thou assert that thou couldst not draw, and afterwards
provedst by thy pencil to the contrary, Jacob Faithful."

"I knew not that I was able to draw when I said so; but I wished to draw
when you supposed I was able--I did not like that you should give me
credit for what I could not do. It was to please you, sir, that I asked
for the pencil."

"I wish it were as thou statest, Jacob--I wish from my inmost soul that
thou wert not guilty."

"Will you ask Mr Knapps from whom he had these drawings, and at what
time? There are a great many of them."

"Answer, Mr Knapps, to the questions of Jacob Faithful."

"They have been given to me by the boys at different times during this
last month."

"Well, Mr Knapps, point out the boys who gave them."

Mr Knapps called out eight or ten boys, who came forward. "Did Barnaby
Bracegirdle give you none of them, Mr Knapps?" said I, percei