'Quite right,' said Mr. Crisparkle; 'the hour Mr. Jasper has
already named to me. You went down to the river together?'
'Undoubtedly. To see the action of the wind there.'
'What followed? How long did you stay there?'
'About ten minutes; I should say not more. We then walked together
to your house, and he took leave of me at the door.'
'Did he say that he was going down to the river again?'
'No. He said that he was going straight back.'
The bystanders looked at one another, and at Mr. Crisparkle. To
whom Mr. Jasper, who had been intensely watching Neville, said, in
a low, distinct, suspicious voice: 'What are those stains upon his
dress?'
All eyes were turned towards the blood upon his clothes.
'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.
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