Ladies who were not in the habit of going out late at night without the fly from the 'George and Vulture', tied their heads up in their handkerchiefs, and hurried up and down the street to tell each other that the great secret had been discovered, and that in truth Mr Crawley had not stolen the cheque. The solution of the mystery was not known to all--was known on that night only to the very select portion of the aristocracy of Silverbridge to whom it was communicated by Mary Walker or Miss Anne Prettyman. For Mary Walker, when earnestly entreated by Jane, the parlour-maid, to tell her something more of the great news, had so far respected her father's caution as to say not a word about Mrs Arabin. 'Is it true, Miss Mary, that he didn't steal it?' Jane asked imploringly. 'It is true. He did not steal it.' 'And who did, Miss Mary?
Indeed I won't tell anybody.' 'Nobody. But don't ask any more questions, for I won't answer them. Get me my hat at once, for I want to go up to Miss Prettyman's.' Then Jane got Miss Walker's hat, and immediately afterwards scampered into the kitchen with the news. 'Oh, law, cook, it's all come out! Mr Crawley's as innocent as the unborn babe. The gentleman upstairs what's just come, and was here once before--for Iknow'd him immediate--I heard him say so. And master said so too.'
'Did master say so his own self?' asked the cook.
'Indeed he did; and Miss Mary told me the same this moment.'
'If master said so, then there ain't a doubt as they'll find him innocent. And who took'd, Jane?'
'Miss Mary says as nobody didn't steal it.'
'That's nonsense, Jane. It stands to reason as somebody had it as hadn't ought to have had it. But I'm glad as anything as how the poor reverend gent'll come off;--I am. They tells me it's weeks sometimes before a bit of butcher's meat finds its way into his house.' Then the groom and the housemaid and the cook, one after another, took occasion to slip out of the back-door, and poor Jane, who had really been the owner of the news, was left to answer the bell.
Miss Walker found the two Miss Prettymans sitting together over their accounts in the elder Miss Prettyman's private room. And she could see at once by signs which were not unfamiliar to her that Miss Anne Prettyman was being scolded. It often happened that Miss Anne Prettyman was scolded, especially when the accounts were brought out upon the table. 'Sister, they are illegible,' Mary Walker heard, as the servant opened the door for her.
'I don't think it's quite so bad as that,' said Miss Anne, unable to restrain her defence. Then, as Mary entered the room, Miss Prettyman the elder laid her hands down on certain books and papers as though to hide them from profane eyes.
'I am glad to see you, Mary,' said Miss Prettyman gravely.
'I've brought such a piece of news,' said Mary. 'I knew you'd be glad to hear it, so I ventured to disturb you.'
'Is it good news?' said Anne Prettyman.
'Very good news. Mr Crawley is innocent.'
Both the ladies sprang on to their legs. Even Miss Prettyman herself jumped up on to her legs. 'No!' said Anne. 'Your father has discovered it?' said Miss Prettyman.
'Not exactly that. Mr Toogood has come down from London to tell him.
Mr Toogood, you know, is Mr Crawley's cousin; and he is a lawyer, like papa.' It may be observed that ladies belonging to the families of solicitors always talk about lawyers, and never about attorneys or barristers.
'And does Mr Toogood say that Mr Crawley is innocent?' asked Miss Prettyman.
'He has heard it by a message from Mrs Arabin. But you mustn't mention this. You won't, please, because papa asked me not. I told him that Ishould tell you.' Then, for the first time, the frown passed away entirely from Miss Prettyman's face, and the papers and account books were pushed aside, as being of no moment. Mary continued her story almost in a whisper. 'It was Mrs Arabin who sent the cheque to Mr Crawley. She says so herself. So that makes Mr Crawley quite innocent. Iam so glad.'
'But isn't it odd he didn't say so?' said Miss Prettyman.
'Nevertheless, it's true.' said Mary.
'Perhaps he forgot,' said Anne Prettyman.
'Men don't forget such things as that,' said the elder sister.
'I really do think that Mr Crawley could forget anything,' said the younger sister.
'You may be sure it's true,' said Mary Walker, 'because papa said so.'
'If he said so, it must be true,' said Miss Prettyman; 'and I am rejoiced. I really am rejoiced. Poor man! Poor ill-used man! And nobody has ever believed that he has really been guilty, even though they may have thought that he spent the money without any proper right to it. And now he will get off. But, dear me, Mary, Mr Smithe told me yesterday that he had already given up his living, and that Mr Spooner, the minor canon, was trying to get it from the dean. But that was because Mr Spooner and Mrs Proudie had quarrelled; and as Mrs Proudie is gone, Mr Spooner very likely won't want to move now.'
'They'll never go and put anybody in Hogglestock, Annabella, over Mr Crawley's head,' said Anne.
'I didn't say that they would. Surely I may be allowed to repeat what Ihear, like another person, without being snapped up.'
'I didn't mean to snap you up, Annabella.'
'You're always snapping me up. But if this is true, I cannot say how glad I am. My poor Grace! Now, I suppose, there will be no difficulty, and Grace will become a great lady.' Then they discussed very minutely the chances of Grace Crawley's promotion.
John Walker, Mr Winthrop, and several others of the chosen spirits of Silverbridge, were playing whist at a provincial club, which had established itself in the town, when the news was brought to them.
