And when they talked over these phenomena, evidently due to a physical cause, "My lad," the old man would say, "we must wait.

It will all be explained some day." However, it must be observed that, hitherto, neither Harry nor his father had ever been exposed to any act of violence.

If the stone which had fallen at the feet of James Starr had been thrown by the hand of some ill-disposed person, it was the first criminal act of that description.
James Starr was of opinion that the stone had become detached from the roof of the gallery; but Harry would not admit of such a simple explanation.

According to him, the stone had not fallen, it had been thrown; for otherwise, without rebounding, it could never have described a trajectory as it did.
Harry saw in it a direct attempt against himself and his father, or even against the engineer..