But in answer
to this the farrier, who was a sharp fellow, and quite beyond
suspicion in the matter, declared that he had very particularly
looked at the nail before he extracted it,--had looked at it with
the feeling that something base might too probably have been
done,--and that he was ready to swear that the clear mark on the
head of the nail was there before he touched it. And then not in
the stable, but lying under the little dung-heap away from the
stable-door, there was found a small piece of broken iron bar,
about a foot long, which might have answered for a hammer,--a rusty
bit of iron; and amidst the rust of this there was found such
traces as might have been left had it been used in striking such a
nail. There were some who declared that neither on the nail nor on
the iron could they see anything. And among these was the Major.
But Mr Lupton brought a strong magnifying-glass to bear, and the
world of examiners was satisfied that the marks were there.
It seemed however to be agreed that nothing could be done.
Silverbridge would not lend himself at all to those who suspected
mischief.
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