"Very willingly," they all three said, and went to take their seats by him. They conversed eagerly for a few minutes, seeming to make more than one discovery during their discussion, and then declared themselves ready. "All I have got to do," said Gibson rising, "is to bring before the school the grounds for suspecting Williams, and all the evidence which makes it probable that he is the offender. Now, first of all, the thing must have been done between Friday evening and Saturday morning; and since the schoolroom door is generally locked soon after school, it was probably done in the short interval between six and a quarter-past. I shall now examine some witnesses." The first boy called upon was Pietrie, who deposed that on Friday evening, when he left the room, having been detained a few minutes, the only boy remaining in it was Williams. Carter, the school-servant, was then sent for, and deposed that he had met Master Williams hastily running out of the room, when he went at a quarter-past six to lock the door. Examined by Gibson-- "Was any boy in the room when you did lock the door?" "No one." "Did you meet any one else in the passage?" "No." Cross-examined by Russell-- "Do boys ever get into the room after the door is locked?" "Yes." "By what means?" "Through the side windows." "That will do." Russell here whispered something to Duncan, who at once left the room, and on returning, after a few minutes' absence, gave Russell a nod so full of significance that, like Lord Burleigh's shake of the head, it seemed to speak whole volumes at once. Barker was next brought forward, and questioned by Gibson. "Do you know that Williams is in the habit of using a particular kind of ink?" "Yes; it is of a violet colour, and has a peculiar smell." "Could you recognise anything written with it?" "Yes." Gibson here handed to Barker the paper which had caused so much trouble. "Is that the kind of ink?" "Yes." "Do you know the handwriting on that paper?" "Yes; it is Williams's hand." "How can you tell?" "He makes his r's in a curious way." "Turn the paper over. Have you ever seen wafers of that kind before?" "Yes; Williams has a box of them in his desk." "Has any other boy, that you are aware of wafers like them?" "No." Cross-examined by Duncan-- "_How_ do you know that Williams has wafers like those?" "I have seen him use them." "For what purpose?" "To fasten letters." "I can't help remarking that you seem very well acquainted with what he does. Several of those who know him best, and have seen him oftenest, never heard of these wafers. May I ask," he said, "if any one else in the school will witness to having seen Williams use these wafers?" No one spoke, and Barker, whose malice seemed to have been changed into uneasiness, sat down. Upton was the next witness. Gibson began-- "You have seen a good deal of Williams?" "Yes," said Upton, smiling. "Have you ever heard him express any opinions of Mr Gordon?"