evidently not at all displeased with Tom's reply; and having possessed himself of the truncheon, gave it to the serjeant, and begged of him to take Ninety-nine out of the house. "Call upon me to-morrow, and I'll speak to you," he added; and on opening the door, Ninety-nine vanished without venturing to say another word.
"Good morning," said the serjeant, as he withdrew. "Good morning."
"Now," said the doctor, having locked the door, and felt it to be his duty to assume an expression of anger—"Now, sir, having created the whole of this disturbance, perhaps you will deem it expedient to go to bed."
"Dot udtil I'b satisfied," replied Tom, fiercely. "Father, I dever to my kdowledge disobeyed you: to by kdowledge I dever told you a deliberate falsehood: willidg as you are to believe ady bad—eved that codtebptible adibal—in preferedce to be, I would dot id ady baterial poidt deceive you."
"I am not, sir, willing to believe any man in preference to you."
"Well, thed, let be tell you this—it is for you to believe or disbelieve be: over your faith, I have, of course, do codtroul; but, father, I declare to you, upod by hodour, I kdow dothidg of this."
"Do you," said the doctor, "declare this upon your honour?—do you declare, upon your honour, that it was not you whom they saw upon the parapet?"
"I do," replied Tom.
"Tom," said the doctor, taking his hand, "I am satisfied, perfectly satisfied, Tom—good night."
The doctor now believed him, but Mrs. Delolme did not. Religious enthusiasm breeds no charity, being in its essence intolerant.
"Well," said Tom privately, on getting into bed again—"this is what I call a go! It's a cobfort to be fortudate; but it's a blessidg to be a victib; add that I have beed victibized id this affair, doe bad id Edgladd, save Didety-dide, cad doubt. That Didety-dide! Well! He's a poor fool. But look at the bischief he has caused. Here ab I, after havidg by wobad destroyed, or so shattered that it will take half a cedtury to put her together agaid—accused of goidg out at dight, add cuttidg by capers upod that appallidg parapet, whed I kdow that I'b as iddocedt as a kid id ebbryo."
Tom did think this hard—very hard; and, while deeply reflecting upon the hardship, dropped off again to sleep.
