n Syme seated in his easy
chair unhurt and surrounded by debris and clouds of dust, he could not
have looked more astonished. He stared at the constable, who stood
before him, very stiff, much buttoned up and perfectly unmoved, as a man
would stand who feels his position unassailable.

Then quietly and calmly taking out his gold-rimmed spring eye-glasses,
the rector drew a white pocket-handkerchief from his breast, carefully
polished each glass, put them on and stared frowningly at his visitor,
who returned the look for a time, and then feeling his position irksome
and that it called for a response, he coughed, saluted in military
fashion and settled his neck inside his coat collar.

"You seem to be perfectly sober, Bates," said the rector at last.

"Sober, sir?" said the man quickly. "Well, I think so, sir."

"Then, my good man, you must be mad."

The constable smiled.

"Beg pardon, sir. That's just what criminals make a point of saying
when you charge 'em. Not as I mean, sir," he added hastily, "that you
are a criminal, far from it."

"Thank you, my man, I hope not. But what in the name of common sense
has put it into your head that my pupil, Mr Distin, could be guilty of
such a terrible deed? Oh, it's absurd--I mean monstrous."

The constable looked at him stolidly, and then said slowly:

"Suckumstarnces, sir, and facks."

"But, really, my good man, I--Stop! You said you had been over to the
town and met your chief officer. Surely you have not started this
shocking theory there."

"Oh, yes, sir. In dooty bound. I told him my suspicions."

"Well, what did he say?"

The constable hesitated, coughed, and pulled himself tightly together.

"I asked you what your chief officer said, sir."

"Well, sir, if I must speak I must. He said I was a fool."

"Ah, exactly," cried the rector, eagerly. Then, checking himself, he
said with a deprecating smile: "No, no, Bates, I do not endorse that,
for I have always found you a very respectable, intelligent officer, who
has most efficiently done his duty in Greythorpe; and unless it were for
your benefit, I should be very sorry to hear of your being removed."

"Thankye, sir; thankye kindly," said the constable.

"But in this case, through excess of zeal, I am afraid you have gone
much too far. Mr Lance Distin is a gentleman, a student, and of very
excellent family. A young man of excellent attainments, and about as
likely to commit such a brutal assaul