"I call you to witness that Major Hardinge has struck me to the ground, and the chief warder has thrown on me a pail of water. What conduct may be expected from ignorant criminals when such is the behaviour of those who are in charge of them, must be left for others to judge."
They looked at one another. Their feelings were momentarily too deep for words.
"I think," suggested the governor, with quavering intonation, "I think--that this man--had better--be taken away."
Warder Slater picked up his hat and coat, and left the room, Mankell walking quietly beside him. Mr. Murray followed after, seeming particularly anxious to conceal the presence of the pail. Mr. Hewett, still stanching the blood which flowed from his nose, fixed his eyes on the inspector.
"Major Hardinge, if, twenty-four hours after this, you are still an Inspector of Prisons, all England shall ring with your shame. Behind bureaucracy--above it--is the English press." The chaplain moved towards the door. On the threshold he paused. "As for the chief warder, I shall commence by indicting him for assault." He took another step, and paused again. "Nor shall I forget that the governor aided and abetted the inspector, and that the doctor egged him on."
Then the chaplain disappeared. His disappearance was followed by what might be described as an abject silence. The governor eyed his colleagues furtively. At last he stammered out a question.
"Well, Major, what do you think of this?"
The Major sank into a chair, expressing his thoughts by a gasp. Mr. Paley turned his attention to the doctor.
"I suppose," murmured the Major, in what seemed to be the ghost of his natural voice, "that I did knock him down?"
The doctor seemed to have something to say on that point, at any rate.
"Knock him down!--I should think you did! Like a log of wood!"
The Major glanced at the governor. Mr. Paley shook his head. The Major groaned. The governor began to be a little agitated.
"Something must be done. It is out of the question that such a scandal should be allowed to go out into the world. I do not hesitate to say that if the chaplain sends in to the commissioners the report which he threatens to send, the situation will be to the last degree unpleasant for all of us."