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THE THIRD CHAPTER
JIP AND THE SECRET
WHEN we reached the house the first question the Doctor asked of
Dab…Dab in the hall was；
〃Is Jip home yet？〃
〃No；〃 said Dab…Dab； 〃I haven't seen him。〃
〃Let me know the moment he comes in； will you； please？〃 said the
Doctor； hanging up his hat。
〃Certainly I will；〃 said Dab…Dab。 〃Don't be long over washing your
hands； the lunch is on the table。〃
Just as we were sitting down to luncheon in the kitchen we heard a
great racket at the front door。 I ran and opened it。 In bounded Jip。
〃Doctor！〃 he cried； 〃come into the library quick。 I've got something to
tell youNo； Dab…Dab； the luncheon must wait。 Please hurry； Doctor。
There's not a moment to be lost。 Don't let any of the animals comejust
you and Tommy。〃
〃Now；〃 he said； when we were inside the library and the door was
dosed； 〃turn the key in the lock and make sure there's no one listening
under the windows。〃
〃It's all right；〃 said the Doctor。 〃Nobody can hear you here。 Now what
is it？〃
〃Well； Doctor；〃 said Jip （he was badly out of breath from running）； 〃I
know all about the HermitI have known for years。 But I couldn't tell
you。〃
〃Why？〃 asked the Doctor。
〃Because I'd promised not to tell any one。 It was Bob； his dog； that
told me。 And I swore to him that I would keep the secret。〃
〃Well； and are you going to tell me now？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Jip； 〃we've got to save him。 I followed Bob's scent just now
when I left you out there on the marshes。 And I found him。 And I said to
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him； 'Is it all right；' I said； 'for me to tell the Doctor now？ Maybe he can do
something。' And Bob says to me； 'Yes；' says he； 'it's all right because' 〃
〃Oh； for Heaven's sake； go on； go on！〃 cried the Doctor。 〃Tell us what
the mystery isnot what you said to Bob and what Bob said to you。 What
has happened？ Where IS the Hermit？〃
〃He's in Puddleby Jail；〃 said Jip。 〃He's in prison。〃
〃In prison！〃
〃Yes。〃
〃What for？What's he done？〃
Jip went over to the door and smelt at the bottom of it to see if any one
were listening outside。 Then he came back to the Doctor on tiptoe and
whispered；
〃HE KILLED A MAN！〃
〃Lord preserve us！〃 cried the Doctor； sitting down heavily in a chair
and mopping his forehead with a handkerchief。 〃When did he do it？〃
〃Fifteen years agoin a Mexican gold…mine。 That's why he has been a
hermit ever since。 He shaved off his beard and kept away from people out
there on the marshes so he wouldn't be recognized。 But last week； it seems
these new…fangled policemen came to Town； and they heard there was a
strange man who kept to himself all alone in a shack on the fen。 And they
got suspicious。 For a long time people had been hunting all over the world
for the man that did that killing in the Mexican gold…mine fifteen years
ago。 So these policemen went out to the shack； and they recognized Luke
by a mole on his arm。 And they took him to prison。〃
〃Well； well！〃 murmured the Doctor。 〃Who would have thought it？
Luke； the philosopher！Killed a man！I can hardly believe it。〃
〃It's true enoughunfortunately；〃 said Jip。 〃Luke did it。 But it wasn't
his fault。 Bob says so。 And he was there and saw it all。 He was scarcely
more than a puppy at the time。 Bob says Luke couldn't help it。 He HAD to
do it。〃
〃Where is Bob now？〃 asked the Doctor。
〃Down at the prison。 I wanted him to come with me here to see you；
but he won't leave the prison while Luke is there。 He just sits outside the
door of the prison…cell and won't move。 He doesn't even eat the food they
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give him。 Won't you please come down there； Doctor； and see if there is
anything you can do？ The trial is to be this afternoon at two o'clock。 What
time is it now？〃
〃It's ten minutes past one。〃
〃Bob says he thinks they are going to kill Luke for a punishment if
they can prove that he did itor certainly keep him in prison for the rest of
his life。 Won't you please come？ Perhaps if you spoke to the judge and told
him what a good man Luke really is they'd let him off。〃
〃Of course I'll come；〃 said the Doctor getting up and moving to go。
〃But I'm very much afraid that I shan't be of any real help。〃 He turned at
the door and hesitated thoughtfully。
〃And yetI wonder〃
Then he opened the door and passed out with Jip and me close at his
heels。
THE FOURTH CHAPTER
BOB
DAB…DAB was terribly upset when she found we were going away
again without luncheon； and she made us take some cold pork…pies in our
pockets to eat on the way。
When we got to Puddleby Court…house （it was next door to the prison）；
we found a great crowd gathered around the building。
This was the week of the Assizesa business which happened every
three months； when many pick…pockets and other bad characters were tried
by a very grand judge who came all the way from London。 And anybody
in Puddleby who had nothing special to do used to come to the Court…
house to hear the trials。
But to…day it was different。 The crowd was not made up of just a few
idle people。 It was enormous。 The news had run through the countryside
that Luke the Hermit was to be tried for killing a man and that the great
mystery which had hung over him so long was to be cleared up at last。 The
butcher and the baker had closed their shops and taken a holiday。 All the
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farmers from round about； and all the townsfolk； were there with their
Sunday clothes on； trying to get seats in the Court。 house or gossipping
outside in low whispers。 The High Street was so crowded you could hardly
move along it。 I had never seen the quiet old town in such a state of
excitement before。 For Puddleby had not had such an Assizes since 1799；
when Ferdinand Phipps； the Rector's oldest son； had robbed the bank。
If I hadn't had the Doctor with me I am sure I would never have been
able to make my