His manner was determined; and the matter was growing rather too serious to be hushed up.
'Swear the man,' growled Mr.Fang, with a very ill grace.

'Now, man, what have you got to say ?' 'This,' said the man: 'I saw three boys: two others and the prisoner here: loitering on the opposite side of the way, when this gentleman was reading.

The robbery was committed by another boy.

I saw it done; and I saw that this boy was perfectly amazed and stupified by it.' Having by this time recovered a little breath, the worthy book-stall keeper proceeded to relate, in a more coherent manner the exact circumstances of the robbery.
'Why didn't you come here before ?' said Fang, after a pause.
'I hadn't a soul to mind the shop,' replied the man.

'Everybody who could have helped me, had joined in the pursuit.