But are you sure there's a plot?
There it don't seem to me you've made out your case." Mr.Hucks said it thoughtfully, but his mind was not working with his speech.

The coals, as he knew--though he did not propose to tell the Doctor, at any rate just yet--had been delivered by Sam Bossom.
Of complicity in any such plot as this Sam was by nature incapable.
On the other hand, Sam was just the fellow to help a couple of children out of mere kindness of heart.

Mr.Hucks decided to have a talk with Sam before committing himself.

He suspected, of course--nay, was certain--that Glasson had kept back something important.
Thus his meditations were running when the Doctor's reply switched the current in a new direction.
"You have not heard the whole of it.

As it happens, the man in charge of the coal-boat was not, as I should judge, one of your regular employees--certainly not an ordinary bargeman--but a person whose speech betrayed him as comparatively well educated." "Eh ?" Mr.Hucks sat upright and stared.
"I am not suggesting--" "No, damme--you 'd better not!" breathed Mr.Hucks.
"Very possibly he had bribed your man with the price of a pot of beer.
At all events, there he was, and in charge of the boat." "You saw him?
Spoke to him ?" "To be accurate, he spoke to me--down the coal-shaft, as I was examining it.