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also； when it became known that Silas Marner； on being
questioned by the Squire and the parson； had retained no other
recollection of the pedlar than that he had called at his door； but
had not entered his house； having turned away at once when Silas；
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holding the door ajar； had said that he wanted nothing。 This had
been Silas’s testimony； though he clutched strongly at the idea of
the pedlar’s being the culprit； if only because it gave him a definite
image of a whereabout for his gold after it had been taken away
from its hiding…place： he could see it now in the pedlar’s box。 But
it was observed with some irritation in the village that anybody
but a “blind creatur” like Marner would have seen the man
prowling about； for how came he to leave his tinder…box in the
ditch close by； if he hadn’t been lingering there？ Doubtless； he had
made his observations when he saw Marner at the door。 Anybody
might know—and only look at him—that the weaver was a half…
crazy miser。 It was a wonder the pedlar hadn’t murdered him；
men of that sort； with rings in their ears； had been known for
murderers often and often； there had been one tried at the ’sizes；
not so long ago but what there were people living who
remembered it。
Godfrey Cass； indeed； entering the Rainbow during one of Mr。
Snell’s frequently repeated recitals of his testimony； had treated it
lightly； stating that he himself had bought a penknife of the pedlar；
and thought him a merry grinning fellow enough； it was all
nonsense； he said； about the man’s evil looks。 But this was spoken
of in the village as the random talk of youth； “as if it was only Mr。
Snell who had seen something odd about the pedlar！” On the
contrary； there were at least half a dozen who were ready to go
before Justice Malam； and give in much more striking testimony
than any the landlord could furnish。 It was to be hoped Mr。
Godfrey would not go to Tarley and throw cold water on what Mr。
Snell said there； and so prevent the justice from drawing up a
warrant。 He was suspected of intending this； when； after midday；
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he was seen setting off on horseback in the direction of Tarley。
But by this time Godfrey’s interest in the robbery had faded
before his growing anxiety about Dunstan and Wildfire； and he
was going； not to Tarley； but to Batherley； unable to rest in
uncertainty about them any longer。 The possibility that Dunstan
had played him the ugly trick of riding away with Wildfire； to
return at the end of a month； when he had gambled away or
otherwise squandered the price of the horse； was a fear that urged
itself upon him more； even； than the thought of an accidental
injury； and now that the dance at Mrs。 Osgood’s was past； he was
irritated with himself that he had trusted his horse to Dunstan。
Instead of trying to still his fears he encouraged them； with that
superstitious impression which clings to us all； that if we expect
evil very strongly it is the less likely to come； and when he heard a
horse approaching at a trot； and saw a hat rising above a hedge
beyond an angle of the lane； he felt as if his conjuration had
succeeded。 But no sooner did the horse come within sight than his
heart sank again。 It was not Wildfire； and in a few moments more
he discerned that the rider was not Dunstan； but Bryce； who
pulled up to speak； with a face that implied something
disagreeable。
“Well； Mr。 Godfrey； that’s a lucky brother of yours； that Master
Dunsey； isn’t he？”
“What do you mean？” said Godfrey hastily。 “Why； hasn’t he
been home yet？” said Bryce。
“Home？ No。 What has happened？ Be quick。 What has he done
with my horse？”
“Ah； I thought it was yours； though he pretended you had
parted with it to him。”
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“Has he thrown him down and broken his knees？” said
Godfrey； flushed with exasperation。
“Worse than that；” said Bryce。 “You see； I’d made a bargain
with him to buy the horse for a hundred and twenty—a swinging
price； but I always liked the horse。 And what does he do but go
and stake him—fly at a hedge with stakes in it； atop of a bank with
a ditch before it。 The horse had been dead a pretty good while
when he was found。 So he hasn’t been home since； has he？”
“Home？ No；” said Godfrey； “and he’d better keep away。
Confound me for a fool！ I might have known this would be the end
of it。”
“Well； to tell you the truth；” said Bryce； “after I’d bargained for
the horse； it did come into my head that he might be riding and
selling the horse without your knowledge； for I didn’t believe it
was his own。 I knew Master Dunsey was up to his tricks
sometimes。 But where can he be gone？ He’s never been seen at
Batherley。 He couldn’t have been hurt； for he must have walked
off。”
“Hurt？” said Godfrey bitterly。 “He’ll never be hurt—he’s made
to hurt other people。”
“And so you did give him leave to sell the horse； eh？” said
Bryce。
“Yes； I wanted to part with the horse—he was always a little too
hard in the mouth for me；” said Godfrey； his pride making him
wince under the idea that Bryce guessed the sale to be a matter of
necessity。 “I was going to see after him—I thought some mischief
had happened。 I’ll go back now；” he added； turning the horse’s
head； and wishing he could get rid of Bryce； for he felt that the
long…dreaded crisis in his life was close upon him。 “You’re coming
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on to Raveloe； aren’t you？”
“Well； no； not now；” said Bryce。 “I was coming round there； for
I had to go to Flitton； and I thought I might as well take you in my
way； and just let you know all I knew myself about the horse。 I
suppose Master Dunsey didn’t like to show himself till the ill news
had blown over a bit。 He’s perhaps gone to pay a visit at the Three
Crowns by Whitbridge—I know he’s fond of the house。”
“Perhaps he is；” said Godfrey； rather absently。 Then rousing
himself； he said； with an effort at carelessness； “We shall hear of
him soon enough； I’ll be bound。”
“Well； here’s my turning；” said Bryce； not surprised to perceive
that Godfrey was rather “down”； “so I’ll bid you good…day； and
wish I may bring you better news another time。”
Godfrey rode along slowly； representing to himself the scene of
confession to his father from which he felt that there was now no
longer any escape。 The revelation about the money must be made
the very next morning； and if he withheld the rest； Dunstan would
be sure to come back shortly； and； finding that he must bear the
brunt of his father’s anger； would tell the whole story out of spite；
even though he had nothing to gain by it。 There was one step；
perhaps； by which he might still win Dunstan’s silence and put off
the evil day： he might tell his father that he had himself spent the
money paid to him by Fowler； and as he had never been guilty of
such an offence before； the affair would blow over