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room； found himself face to face with the same two men whom Jicks had
discovered ten days previously lounging against the wall。
As he approached the window； they were both busily engaged； with their
backs towards him； in cording up the packing…case which contained the
metal plates。
They rose and faced him as he stepped into the room。 The act of robbery
which he found them coolly perpetrating in broad daylight； instantly set
his irritable temper in a flame。 He rushed at the younger of the two
menbeing the one nearest to him。 The ruffian sprang aside out of his
reach； snatched up from the table on which it was lying ready； a short
loaded staff of leather called 〃a life…preserver；〃 and struck him with it
on the head； before he had recovered himself； and could face his man once
more。
From that moment； he remembered nothing； until he had regained his
consciousness after the first shock of the blow。
He found himself lying； giddy and bleeding； on the floor； and he saw the
child （who must have strayed into the room while he was senseless）
standing petrified with fear； looking at him。 The idea of making use of
heras the only living being nearto give the alarm； came to him
instinctively the moment he recognized her。 He coaxed the little creature
to venture within reach of his hand； and； dipping his finger in the blood
that was flowing from him； sent us the terrible message which I had spelt
out on the back of her frock。 That done； he exerted his last remains of
strength to push her gently towards the open window； and direct her to go
home。 He fainted from loss of blood； while he was still repeating the
words； 〃Go home！ go home！〃and still seeing； or fancying that he saw；
the child stopping obstinately in the room； stupefied with terror。 Of the
time at which she found the courage and the sense to run home； and of all
that had happened after that； he was necessarily ignorant。 His next
conscious impression was the impression； already recorded； of seeing
Lucilla sitting by his bedside。
The account of the matter thus given by Oscar； was followed by a
supplementary statement provided by the police。
The machinery of the law was put in action； and the village was kept in a
fever of excitement for days together。 Never was there a more complete
investigationand never was a poorer result achieved。 Substantially；
nothing was discovered beyond what I had already found out for myself。
The robbery was declared to have been （as I had supposed） a planned
thing。 Though we had none of us noticed them at the rectory； it was
ascertained that the thieves had been at Dimchurch on the day when the
unlucky plates were first delivered at Browndown。 Having taken their time
to examine the house； and to make themselves acquainted with the domestic
habits of the persons in it； the rogues had paid their second visit to
the villageno doubt to commit the robberyon the occasion when we had
discovered them。 Foiled by the unexpected return of the gold and silver
to London； they had waited again； had followed the plates back to
Browndown； and had effected their objectthanks to the lonely situation
of the house； and to the murderous blow which had stretched Oscar
insensible on the floor。
More than one witness had met them on the road back to Brighton； with the
packing…case in the chaise。 But when they returned to the livery…stables
from which they had hired the vehicle； the case was not to be seen。
Accomplices in Brighton had； in all probability； assisted them in getting
rid of it； and in shifting the plates into ordinary articles of luggage；
which would attract no special attention at the railway station。 This was
the explanation given by the police。 Right or wrong； the one fact remains
that the villains were not caught； and that the assault and robbery at
Oscar's house may be added to the long list of crimes cleverly enough
committed to defy the vengeance of the law。
For ourselves； we all agreedled by Lucillato indulge in no useless
lamentations； and to be grateful that Oscar had escaped without serious
injury。 The mischief was done； and there was an end of it。
In this philosophical spirit； we looked at the affair while our invalid
was recovering。 We all plumed ourselves on our excellent good senseand
（ah； poor stupid human wretches！） we were all fatally wrong。 So far from
the mischief being at an end； the mischief had only begun。 The true
results of the robbery at Browndown were yet to show themselves； and were
yet to be felt in the strangest and the saddest way by every member of
the little circle assembled at Dimchurch。
CHAPTER THE SIXTEENTH
First Result of the Robbery
BETWEEN five and six weeks passed。 Oscar was out of his bed…room； and was
well of his wound。
During this lapse of time； Lucilla steadily pursued that process of her
own of curing him； which was to end in marrying him。 Never had I seen
such nursing beforenever do I expect to see such nursing again。 From
morning to night； she interested him； and kept him in good spirits。 The
charming creature actually made her blindness a means of lightening the
weary hours of the man she loved。
Sometimes； she would sit before Oscar's looking…glass； and imitate all
the innumerable tricks； artifices； and vanities of a coquette arraying
herself for conquestwith such wonderful truth and humour of mimicry；
that you would have sworn she possessed the use of her eyes。 Sometimes；
she would show him her extraordinary power of calculating by the sound of
a person's voice； the exact position which that person occupied towards
her in a room。 Selecting me as the victim； she would first provide
herself with one of the nosegays always placed by her own hands at
Oscar's bedside； and would then tell me to take up my position
noiselessly in any part of the room that I pleased； and to say 〃Lucilla。〃
The instant the words were out of my mouth； the nosegay flew from her
hand； and hit me on the face。 She never once missed her aim； on any one
of the occasions when this experiment was triedand she never once
flagged in her childish enjoyment of the exhibition of her own skill。
Nobody was allowed to pour out Oscar's medicine but herself。 She knew
when the spoon into which it was to be measured was full； by the sound
which the liquid made in falling into it。 When he was able to sit up in
his bed； and when she was standing at the pillow…side； she could tell him
how near his head was to hers； by the change which he produced； when he
bent forward or when he drew back； in the action of the air on her face。
In the same way； she knew as well as he knew； when the sun was out and
when it was behind a cloudjudging by the differing effect of the air；
at such times； on her forehead and on her cheeks。
All the litter of little objects accumulating in a sick…room； she kept in
perfect order on a system of her own。 She delighted in putting the room
tidy late in the evening； when we helpless people who could see were
beginning to think of lighting the candles。 The time when we could just
discern her； flitting to and fro in the dusk； in her bright summer
dressnow visible as she passed the window； now lost in the shadows at
the end o