4:30
Coote was once more racked by doubts as to whether he had really taken the pencil after all . He was morally certain he had not , but Coote was a youth always open to conviction . The door opened at last , and Aspinall appeared ushering in the bookseller , who looked like a man who suspected a trap and was prepared to defend himself at the first sign of attack . He had received a note in the morning from Pledge -- of whom he had seen or heard nothing since his visit to the shop a fortnight ago -- asking him to be sure to call at the school at 4:30 on a matter of business . When Aspinall summoned him , he concluded it was to go to Pledge 's study . But when , instead of that , he found himself suddenly ushered into a congregation of the whole school , it was small wonder if he felt bewildered and sniffed treachery . `` Mr Webster , '' said Mansfield , `` Pledge , here , has just been publicly accusing three boys of theft .