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you’re allays at； if I throw a stone and hit； you think there’s
summat better than hitting； and you try to throw a stone beyond。
What I said was against the tinder…box； I said nothing against
justices and constables； for they’re o’ King George’s making； and it
’ud be ill…becoming a man in a parish office to fly out again’ King
George。”
While these discussions were going on amongst the group
outside the Rainbow； a higher consultation was being carried on
within； under the presidency of Mr。 Crackenthorp； the rector；
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assisted by Squire Cass and other substantial parishioners。 It had
just occurred to Mr。 Snell； the landlord—he being； as he observed；
a man accustomed to put two and two together—to connect with
the tinder…box； which； as deputy…constable； he himself had had the
honourable distinction of finding； certain recollections of a pedlar
who had called to drink at the house about a month before； and
had actually stated that he carried a tinder…box about with him to
light his pipe。 Here； surely； was a clue to be followed out。 And as
memory； when duly impregnated with ascertained facts； is
sometimes surprisingly fertile； Mr。 Snell gradually recovered a
vivid impression of the effect produced on him by the pedlar’s
countenance and conversation。 He had a “look with his eye” which
fell unpleasantly on Mr。 Snell’s sensitive organism。 To be sure； he
didn’t say anything particular—no； except that about the tinder…
box—but it isn’t what a man says； it’s the way he says it。 Moreover；
he had a swarthy foreignness of complexion which boded little
honesty。
“Did he wear earrings？” Mr。 Crackenthorp wished to know；
having some acquaintance with foreign customs。
“Well—stay—let me see；” said Mr。 Snell； like a docile
clairvoyant； who would really not make a mistake if she could help
it。 After stretching the corners of his mouth and contracting his
eyes； as if he were trying to see the earrings； he appeared to give
up the effort； and said； “Well； he’d got earrings in his box to sell； so
it’s nat’ral to suppose he might wear ’em。 But he called at every
house； a’most； in the village； there’s somebody else； mayhap； saw
’em in his ears； though I can’t take upon me rightly to say。”
Mr。 Snell was correct in his surmise that somebody else would
remember the pedlar’s earrings。 For on the spread of inquiry
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among the villagers it was stated with gathering emphasis that the
parson had wanted to know whether the pedlar wore earrings in
his ears； and an impression was created that a great deal
depended on the eliciting of this fact。 Of course； every one who
heard the question； not having any distinct image of the pedlar as
without earrings； immediately had an image of him with earrings；
larger or smaller； as the case might be； and the image was
presently taken for a vivid recollection； so that the glazier’s wife； a
well…intentioned woman； not given to lying； and whose house was
among the cleanest in the village； was ready to declare； as sure as
ever she meant to take the sacrament the very next Christmas that
was ever coming； that she had seen big earrings； in the shape of
the young moon； in the pedlar’s two ears； while Jinny Oates； the
cobbler’s daughter； being a more imaginative person； stated not
only that she had seen them too； but that they had made her blood
creep； as it did at that very moment while there she stood。
Also； by way of throwing further light on this clue of the tinder…
box； a collection was made of all the articles purchased from the
pedlar at various houses； and carried to the Rainbow to be
exhibited there。 In fact； there was a general feeling in the village
that for the clearing…up of this robbery there must be a great deal
done at the Rainbow； and that no man need offer his wife an
excuse for going there while it was the scene of severe public
duties。
Some disappointment was felt； and perhaps a little indignation
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 spo