human
Jacob Faithful, draw near, said he, in a tone which proved that the affair was serious. I drew near, wondering.
gpt
Thou hast been accused by Mr Knapps of caricaturing, and holding up to the ridicule of the school, me--thy master. Upon any other boy such disrespect should be visited severely; but from thee, Jacob, I must add in the words of Caesar, `_Et tu Brute_,' I expected, I had a right to expect, otherwise. _In se animi ingrati crimen vitia omnia condit_. Thou understandest me, Jacob-- guilty or not guilty?
human
Not guilty, sir,
gpt
He pleadeth net guilty, Mr Knapps; proceed, then, to prove thy charge.
human
These drawings, sir, which you will please to look over, have all been given up to me as the performance of Jacob Faithful. At first I could not believe it to be true; but you will perceive, at once, that they are all by the same hand.
gpt
That I acknowledge, said the Dominie;
human
continued the Dominie, looking at some of them; and I heard a gentle _cluck, cluck_, in his throat, as he laughed at his own mis-representations.
gpt
Here is one drawing, sir, continued Mr Knapps,
human
I perceive, replied the Dominie, looking at it through his spectacles, when put into his hand,
gpt
But, sir, continued Mr Knapps,
human
I perceive that it doth; and am grieved to find that such is the case. Jacob Faithful, thou are convicted of disrespect and of falsehood. Where is Simon Swapps?
gpt
If you please, sir, may I not defend myself? replied I.
human
Am I to be flogged unheard?
gpt
Nay, that were an injustice, replied the Dominie;
human
May I look at those caricatures, sir?
gpt
These drawings are by Barnaby Bracegirdle, sir, and not by me. I never drew a caricature in my life.
human
So didst thou assert that thou couldst not draw, and afterwards provedst by thy pencil to the contrary, Jacob Faithful.
gpt
I knew not that I was able to draw when I said so; but I wished to draw when you supposed I was able--I did not like that you should give me credit for what I could not do. It was to please you, sir, that I asked for the pencil.
human
I wish it were as thou statest, Jacob--I wish from my inmost soul that thou wert not guilty.
gpt
Will you ask Mr Knapps from whom he had these drawings, and at what time? There are a great many of them.
human
Answer, Mr Knapps, to the questions of Jacob Faithful.
gpt
They have been given to me by the boys at different times during this last month.
human
Well, Mr Knapps, point out the boys who gave them.
gpt
Did Barnaby Bracegirdle give you none of them, Mr Knapps?
human
No,
gpt
If you please, sir, said I to the Dominie,
human
Thou hast disproved nothing, Jacob,
gpt
But I have proved something, sir. On what day was it that I asked you for the pencil to draw with? Was it not on a Saturday?
human
Last Saturday week, I think it was.
gpt
Well, then, sir, Mr Knapps told you the day before that I could draw?
human
He did; and thou deniedst it.
gpt
How, then, does Mr Knapps account for not producing those caricatures of mine, which he says he has collected for a whole month? Why didn't he give them to you before?
human
Thou puttest it shrewdly, replied the Dominie.
gpt
Answer, Mr Knapps, why didst thou, for a fortnight at the least, conceal thy knowledge of his offence?
human
I wished to have more proofs,
gpt
Thou hearest, Jacob Faithful.
human
Pray, sir, did you ever hear me speak of my poor mother but with kindness?
gpt
Never, Jacob, thou hast ever appeared dutiful.
human
Please, sir, to call up John Williams.
gpt
John, Number 37, draw near.
human
Williams, said I,
gpt
Yes, I did.
human
Now, sir, cried I,