The schoolmaster hesitated before replying.
"Now, Mr.Hathorn," the lawyer said briskly, "we want neither hesitation nor equivocation.

We may as well have it from you, because if you don't like telling the truth I can put the thirty miserable lads under your charge into the box one after the other." "They have had extra tasks to do during their play time," Mr.Hathorn said, "because they refused to reveal which among them brutally murdered my cat." "And how do you know they murdered your cat ?" "I am sure they did," the schoolmaster said shortly.
"Oh! you are sure they did! And why are you so sure?
Had they any grudge against your cat ?" "They pretended they had a grudge." "What for, Mr.Hathorn ?" "They used to accuse her of upsetting the ink bottles when they did it themselves." "You did not believe their statements, I suppose ?" "Not at all." "You caned them just the same as if they had done it themselves.

At least I am told so." "Of course I caned them, especially as I knew that they were telling a lie." "But if it was a lie, Mr.Hathorn, if this cat did not upset their ink, why on earth should these boys have a grudge against her and murder her ?" The schoolmaster was silent.
"Now I want an answer, sir.

You are punishing thirty boys in addition to the sixteen daily canings divided among them; you have cut off all their play time, and kept them at work from the time they rise to the time they go to bed.

As you see, according to your own statement, they could have had no grudge against the cat, how are you sure they murdered her ?" "I am quite sure." Mr.Hathorn said doggedly.