No other
theory they could hit upon explained so well what was known. The
tricked sergeant was placed under arrest, and Whately, who had gone
to sleep with such high and mighty notions of his prowess and
friendly league with fate, found himself in partial disgrace and in
the depths of mortification. He kept guard over his prisoners in
person the remainder of the night and again had opportunity to
repent at leisure. He mentally cursed himself as a fool, for now he
remembered his mother's words. If he had shown leniency to Scoville,
and brought him into the house, he might have kept the prisoner and
won the goodwill of his cousin. Now, she would probably hear the
humiliating facts and be less inclined either to fear or favor him.
It was well that no suspicion on his part or that of others had
fallen on her, for she was not one who could face coolly a severe
cross-questioning.
Perkins skulked off to his house, assuaged his aching head with cold
water and his wounded spirit with whiskey. As he tried to think the
matter over a vague suspicion of the truth began to enter his
confused brain.
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