 to
doubt the claim set up, which they would otherwise have seen no reason to
dispute; supported as it was by evidence which they had no power of disproving.
That, once suspecting the existence of a conspiracy, they had no difficulty in
tracing back its origin to the malice of Ralph, and the vindictiveness and
avarice of Squeers. That, suspicion and proof being two very different things,
they had been advised by a lawyer, eminent for his sagacity and acuteness in
such practice, to resist the proceedings taken on the other side for the
recovery of the youth, as slowly and artfully as possible, and meanwhile to
beset Snawley (with whom it was clear the main falsehood must rest); to lead
him, if possible, into contradictory and conflicting statements; to harass him
by all available means; and so to practise on his fears, and regard for his own
safety, as to induce him to divulge the whole scheme, and to give up his
employer and whomsoever else he could implicate. That, all this had been
skilfully done; but that Snawley, who was well practised in the arts of low
cunning and intrigue, had successfully baffled all their attempts, until an
unexpected circumstance had brought him, last night, upon his knees.
    It thus arose. When Newman Noggs reported that Squeers was again in town,
and that an interview of such secrecy had taken place between him and Ralph that
he had been sent out of the house, plainly lest he should overhear a word, a
watch was set upon the schoolmaster, in the hope that something might be
discovered which would throw some light upon the suspected plot. It being found,
however, that he held no further communication with Ralph, nor any with Snawley,
and lived quite alone, they were completely at fault; the watch was withdrawn,
and they would have observed his motions no longer, if it had not happened that,
one night, Newman stumbled unobserved on him and Ralph in the street together.
Following them, he discovered, to his surprise, that they repaired to various
low lodging-houses, and taverns kept by broken gamblers, to more than one of
whom Ralph was known, and that they were in pursuit - so he found by inquiries
when they had left - of an old woman, whose description exactly tallied with
that of deaf Mrs. Sliderskew. Affairs now appearing to assume a more serious
complexion, the watch was renewed with increased vigilance; an officer was
procured, who took up his abode in the same tavern with Squeers; and by him and
Frank Cheeryble, the footsteps of the
