Mr Macey, though he joined in
the defence of Marner against all suspicions of deceit, also
pooh-poohed the tinder-box; indeed, repudiated it as a rather
impious suggestion, tending to imply that everything must be done by
human hands, and that there was no power which could make away with
the guineas without moving the bricks. Nevertheless, he turned round
rather sharply on Mr Tookey, when the zealous deputy, feeling that
this was a view of the case peculiarly suited to a parish-clerk,
carried it still farther, and doubted whether it was right to
inquire into a robbery at all when the circumstances were so
mysterious.
'As if,' concluded Mr Tookey- 'as if there was nothing but what
could be made out by justices and constables.'
'Now, don't you be for overshooting the mark, Tookey,' said Mr
Macey, nodding his head aside, admonishingly. 'That's what 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, assisted by Squire Cass
and other substantial parishioners.
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