Part 23 (1/2)

”After you have punched your fellow-creature's head.”

”But it is impossible, sir. How can you know? These acts are kept as secret as the grave.”

”And how often has the grave revealed its secrets to observant men? Dr.

Donne sauntered about among graves, and saw a s.e.xton turn up a skull.

He examined it, found a nail in it, identified the skull, and had the murderess hung. She was safe from the s.e.xton and the rest of the parish, but not from a stray observer. Well, the day you were blown up, I observed something, and arrived at a conclusion, by my art.”

”What, physic?”

”Oh, dear, no; my other art, my art of arts, that I don't get paid for; the art of putting myself in other people's places. I'll tell you. While you lay on the ground, in Mr. Cheetham's yard, I scanned the workmen's faces. They were full of pity and regret, and were much alike in expression--all but one. That one looked a man awakened from a dream.

His face was wild, stupid, confused, astonished. 'Hallo!' said I, 'why are your looks so unlike the looks of your fellows?' Instantly I put myself in his place. I ceased to be the Democritus, or laughing philosopher of Hillsborough, and became a low uneducated brute of a workman. Then I asked this brute, viz, myself, why I was staring and glaring in that way, stupidly astonished, at the injured man? 'Were you concerned in the criminal act, ye blackguard?' said I to myself. The next step was to put myself in the place of the criminal. I did so; and I realized that I, the criminal, had done the act to please the Unions, and expecting the sympathy of all Union workmen to be with me. Also that I, being an ignorant brute, had never pictured to myself what suffering I should inflict. But what was the result? I now saw the sufferer, and did not like my own act; and I found all the sympathy of my fellows went with him, and that I was loathed and execrated, and should be lynched on the spot were I to own my act. I now whipped back to Dr. Amboyne with the theory thus obtained, and compared it with that face; the two fitted each other, and I saw the criminal before me.”

”Good heavens! This is very deep.”

”No slop-basin was ever deeper. So leave it for the present, and go to work. Here are cards admitting you, as my commissioner, to all the princ.i.p.al works. Begin with--Stop a moment, while I put myself in your place. Let me see, 'Cheetham's grinders think they have turned me out of Hillsborough. That mortifies a young man of merit like me. Confound 'em! I should like to show them they have not the power to drive me out.

Combine how they will, I rise superior. I forge as they could not forge: that was my real crime. Well, I'll be their superior still. I'm their inspector, and their benefactor, at higher wages than they, poor devils, will ever earn at inspecting and benefiting, or any thing else.' Ah!

your color rises. I've hit the right nail, isn't it an excellent and most transmigratory art? Then begin with Cheetham. By-the-bye, the Anomaly has spotted a defective grindstone there. Scrutinize all his departments severely; for no man values his people's lives less than my good friend John Cheetham. Away with you both; and G.o.d speed you.”

Henry walked down the street with the Anomaly, and tried to gauge his intellects.

”What's your real name, my man?”

”Silly Billy.”

”Oh, then I'm afraid you can't do much to help me.”

”Oh yes, I can, because--”

”Because what?”

”Because I like you.”

”Well, that's lucky, any way.”

”Billy can catch trout when n.o.body else can,” said the youngster, turning his eyes proudly up to Henry's.

”Oh, indeed! But you see that is not exactly what the doctor wants us for.”

”Nay; he's wrapped up in trout. If it wasn't for Billy and the trout, he'd die right off.”

Henry turned a look of silent pity on the boy, and left him in his pleasing illusion. He wondered that Dr. Amboyne should have tacked this biped on to him.

They entered Cheetham's works, and Henry marched grimly into the office, and showed Mr. Bayne his credentials.

”Why, Little, you had no need of that.”

”Oh, it is as well to have no misunderstanding with your employer's masters. I visit these works for my present employer, Dr. Amboyne, with the consent of Mr. Cheetham, here written.”