The magistrate walked up the aisle with Mr. Antrobus, who was one of the
churchwardens; and as he did so, he said, in a low, confidential tone of
voice--

"I have heard some strange reports about a terrible stench in the
church. What does it mean? I suppose you know all about it, and what it
arises from?" "Indeed I do not. If you have heard that there is a horrible smell in
the church after it has been shut up for some time, and upon the least
change in the weather, from dry or wet, or cold or warm, you know as
much as we know upon the subject. It is a most serious nuisance, and, in
fact, my presence here to-day is to try and make some discovery of the
cause of the stench; and you see we are going to work our way into some
of the old vaults that have not been opened for some time, with a hope
of finding out the cause of this disagreeable odour." "Have you any objection to my being a spectator?" "None in the least." "I thank you. Let us now join the workmen, and I can only now tell you
that I feel the strongest possible curiosity to ascertain what can be
the meaning of all this, and shall watch the proceedings with the
greatest amount of interest." "Come along then; I can only say, for my part, that, as an individual, I
am glad you are here, and as a magistrate, likewise, it gives me great
satisfaction to have you." CHAPTER XXVIII. TOBIAS'S ESCAPE FROM MR. FOGG'S ESTABLISHMENT. The rage into which Mr. Fogg was thrown by the attack which the
desperate Tobias had made upon his representative, Mr. Watson, was so
great, that, had it not been for the presence of stupid old Dr.
Popplejoy in the house, no doubt he would have taken some most exemplary
vengeance upon him. As it was, however, Tobias was thrown into his cell
with a promise of vengeance as soon as the coast was clear. These were a
kind of promises which Mr. Fogg was pretty sure to keep, and when the
first impulse of his passion had passed away, poor Tobias, as well
indeed he might, gave himself up to despair. "Now all is over," he said; "I shall be half murdered! Oh, why do they
not kill me at once? There would be some mercy in that. Come and murder
me at once, you wretches! You villains, murder me at once!" In his new excitement, he rushed to the door of the cell, and banged at
it with his fists, when to his surprise it opened, and he found himself
nearly falling into the stone corridor from which the various cell doors
opened. It was evident that Mr. Watson thought he had locked him in, for
the bolt of the lock was shot back, but had missed its hold--a
circumstance probably arising from the state of rage and confusion Mr.
Watson was in, as a consequence of Tobias's daring attack upon him. It
almost seemed to the boy as if he had already made some advance towards
his freedom, when he found himself in the narrow passage beyond his cell
door, but his heart for some minutes beat so tumultuously with the
throng of blissful associations connected with freedom, that it was
quite impossible for him to proceed. A slight noise, however, in another
part of the building roused him again, and he felt that it was only now
by a great coolness and self-possession, as well as great courage, that
he could at all hope to turn to account the fortunate incident which had
enabled him, at all events, to make that first step towards liberty. "Oh, if I could but get out of this dreadful place," he thought; "if I
could but once again breathe the pure fresh air of heaven, and see the
deep blue sky, I think I should ask for no other blessings." Never do the charms of nature present themselves to the imagination in
more lovely guise than when some one with an imagination full of such
beauties, and a mind to appreciate the glories of the world, is shut up
from real, actual contemplation. To Tobias now the thought of green
fields, sunshine and flowers, was at once rapture and agony. "I must," he said, "I must--I will be free." A thorough determination to do anything, we are well convinced, always
goes a long way towards its accomplishment; and certainly Tobias now
would cheerfully have faced death in any shape, rather than he would
again have been condemned to the solitary horrors of the cell, from
which he had by such a chance got free. He conjectured the stupid old
Dr. Popplejoy had not left the house, by the unusual quiet that reigned
in it, and he began to wonder if, while that quiet subsisted, there was
the remotest chance of his getting into the garden, and then scaling the
wall, and so reaching the open common. While this thought was
establishing itself in his mind, and he was thinking that he would
pursue the passage in which he was until he saw where it led to, he
heard the sound of footsteps, and he shrank back. For a few seconds they
appeared as if they were approaching where he was; and he began to dread
that the cell would be searched, and his absence discovered, in which
case there would be no chance for him but death. Suddenly, however, the
approaching footsteps paused, and then he heard a door banged shut. It
was still, even now, some minutes before Tobias could bring himself to
traverse the passage again, and when he did, it was with a slow and
stealthy step. He had not, however, gone above thirty paces, before he
heard the indistinct murmur of voices, and being guided by the sound, he
paused at a door on his right hand, which he thought must be the one he
had heard closed but a few minutes previously. It was from the interior
of the room which that was the door of, that the sound of voices came,
and as it was a matter of the very first importance to Tobias to
ascertain in what part of the house his enemies were, he placed his ear
against the panel, and listened attentively. He recognised both the
voices: they were those of Watson and Fogg. It was a very doubtful and
ticklish situation that poor Tobias was now in, but it was wonderful
how, by dint of strong resolution, he had stilled the beating of his
heart and the general nervousness of his disposition. There was but a
frail door between him and his enemies, and yet he stood profoundly
still and listened. Mr. Fogg was speaking. "You quite understand me, Watson, I think," he said, "as concerns that
little viper, Tobias Ragg; he is too cunning, and much too dangerous to
live long. He almost staggered old superannuated Popplejoy." "Oh, confound him!" replied Watson, "and he's quite staggered me." "Why, certainly your face is rather scratched." "Yes, the little devil! but it's all in the way of business, that, Mr.
Fogg, and you never heard me grumble at such little matters yet; and
I'll be bound never will, that's more." "I give you credit for that, Watson; but between you and I, I think the
disease of that boy is of a nature that will carry him off very
suddenly." "I think so too," said Watson, with a chuckle.