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road goes； from that point you can walk up； or be dragged up as you
may prefer； but you will probably find walking more comfortable。〃
〃But；〃 said Hanky； 〃come what may； I must be at the banquet。 I am
set down to speak。〃
〃The Mayor will explain that you have been taken somewhat suddenly
unwell。〃
Here Yram； who had been talking quietly with her husband； Dr。
Downie； and Mrs。 Humdrum； motioned her son to silence。
〃I feared；〃 she said； 〃that difficulties might arise； though I did
not foresee how seriously they would affect my guests。 Let Mrs。
Humdrum on our side； and Dr。 Downie on that of the Professors； go
into the next room and talk the matter quietly over； let us then
see whether we cannot agree to be bound by their decision。 I do
not doubt but they will find some means of averting any catastrophe
more seriousNo； Professor Hanky； the doors are lockedthan a
little perjury in which we shall all share and share alike。〃
〃Do what you like；〃 said Hanky； looking for all the world like a
rat caught in a trap。 As he spoke he seized a knife from the
table； whereon George pulled a pair of handcuffs from his pocket
and slipped them on to his wrists before he well knew what was
being done to him。
〃George；〃 said the Mayor； 〃this is going too far。 Do you mean to
Blue…Pool the Professors or no？〃
〃Not if they will compromise。 If they will be reasonable； they
will not be Blue…Pooled； if they think they can have everything
their own way； the eels will be at them before morning。〃
A voice was heard from the head of Panky which he had buried in his
arms upon the table。 〃Co…co…co…compromise；〃 it said； and the
effect was so comic that every one except Hanky smiled。 Meanwhile
Yram had conducted Dr。 Downie and Mrs。 Humdrum into an adjoining
room。
CHAPTER XX： MRS。 HUMDRUM AND DR。 DOWNIE PROPOSE A COMPROMISE；
WHICH； AFTER AN AMENDMENT BY GEORGE； IS CARRIED NEM。 CON。
They returned in about ten minutes； and Dr。 Downie asked Mrs。
Humdrum to say what they had agreed to recommend。
〃We think；〃 said she very demurely； 〃that the strict course would
be to drop the charge of poaching； and Blue…Pool both the
Professors and the prisoner without delay。
〃We also think that the proper thing would be to place on record
that the prisoner is the Sunchildabout which neither Dr。 Downie
nor I have a shadow of doubt。
〃These measures we hold to be the only legal ones； but at the same
time we do not recommend them。 We think it would offend the public
conscience if it came to be known； as it certainly would； that the
Sunchild was violently killed； on the very day that had seen us
dedicate a temple in his honour； and perhaps at the very hour when
laudatory speeches were being made about him at the Mayor's
banquet； we think also that we should strain a good many points
rather than Blue…Pool the Professors。
〃Nothing is perfect； and Truth makes her mistakes like other
people； when she goes wrong and reduces herself to such an
absurdity as she has here done； those who love her must save her
from herself； correct her； and rehabilitate her。
〃Our conclusion； therefore； is this：…
〃The prisoner must recant on oath his statement that he is the
Sunchild。 The interpreter must be squared； or convinced of his
mistake。 The Mayoress； Dr。 Downie； I； and the gaoler （with the
interpreter if we can manage him）； must depose on oath that the
prisoner is not Higgs。 This must be our contribution to the
rehabilitation of Truth。
〃The Professors must contribute as follows： They must swear that
the prisoner is not the man they met with quails in his possession
on Thursday night。 They must further swear that they have one or
both of them known him； off and on； for many years past； as a
monomaniac with Sunchildism on the brain but otherwise harmless。
If they will do this； no proceedings are to be taken against them。
〃The Mayor's contribution shall be to reprimand the prisoner； and
order him to repeat his recantation in the new temple before the
Manager and Head Cashier； and to confirm his statement on oath by
kissing the reliquary containing the newly found relic。
〃The Ranger and the Master of the Gaol must contribute that the
prisoner's measurements； and the marks found on his body； negative
all possibility of his identity with the Sunchild； and that all the
hair on the covered as well as the uncovered parts of his body was
found to be jet black。
〃We advise further that the prisoner should have his nuggets and
his kit returned to him； and that the receipt given by the
Professors together with Professor Hanky's handkerchief be given
back to the Professors。
〃Furthermore； seeing that we should all of us like to have a quiet
evening with the prisoner； we should petition the Mayor and
Mayoress to ask him to meet all here present at dinner to…morrow
evening； after his discharge； on the plea that Professors Hanky and
Panky and Dr。 Downie may give him counsel； convince him of his
folly； and if possible free him henceforth from the monomania under
which he now suffers。
〃The prisoner shall give his word of honour； never to return to
Erewhon； nor to encourage any of his countrymen to do so。 After
the dinner to which we hope the Mayoress Will invite us； the
Ranger； if the night is fair； shall escort the prisoner as far as
the statues； whence he will find his own way home。
〃Those who are in favour of this compromise hold up their hands。〃
The Mayor and Yram held up theirs。 〃Will you hold up yours；
Professor Hanky；〃 said George； 〃if I release you？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Hanky with a gruff laugh； whereon George released him
and he held up both his hands。
Panky did not hold up his； whereon Hanky said； 〃Hold up your hands；
Panky； can't you？ We are really very well out of it。〃
Panky； hardly lifting his head； sobbed out； 〃I think we ought to
have our f…f…fo…fo…four pounds ten returned to us。〃
〃I am afraid； sir；〃 said George； 〃that the prisoner must have spent
the greater part of this money。〃
Every one smiled； indeed it was all George could do to prevent
himself from laughing outright。 The Mayor brought out his purse；
counted the money； and handed it good…humouredly to Panky； who
gratefully received it； and said he would divide it with Hanky。 He
then held up his hands； 〃But；〃 he added； turning to his brother
Professor； 〃so long as I live； Hanky； I will never go out anywhere
again with you。〃
George then turned to Hanky and said； 〃I am afraid I must now
trouble you and Professor Panky to depose on oath to the facts
which Mrs。 Humdrum and Dr。 Downie propose you should swear to in
open court to…morrow。 I knew you would do so； and have brought an
ordinary form； duly filled up； which declares that the prisoner is
not the poacher you met on Thursday； and also； that he has been
long known to both of you as a harmless monomaniac。〃
As he spoke he brought out depositions to the above effect which he
had just written in his office； he shewed the Professors that the
form was this time an innocent one； whereon they made no demur to
signing and swearing in the presence of the Mayor； who attested。
〃The former depositions；〃 said Hanky； 〃had better be destroyed at
once。〃
〃That；〃 said George； 〃may hardly be； but so long as you stick to
what you have just sworn to； they will not be used against you。〃
Hanky scowled； but knew that he was powerless and said no more。
* * *
The knowledge of what ensued did not reach me from my father。
George and his mother； seeing how ill he looked； and what a shock
the events of the last few days had given him； resolved that he
should not know of the risk that George was about to run； they
therefore said nothing to him about it。 What I shall now tell； I
learned on the occasion already referred to when I had the
happiness to meet George。 I am in some doubt whether it is more
fitly told here； or when I come to the interview between him and
me； on the whole； however； I suppose chronological order is least
outraged by dealing with it here。
As soon as the Professors had signed the second depositions； George
said； 〃I have not yet held up my hands； but I will hold them up if
Mrs。 Humdrum and Dr。 Downie will approve of what I propose。 Their
compromise does not go far enough； for swear as we may； it is sure
to get noised abroad； with the usual exaggerations； that the
Sunchild has been here； and that he has been spirited away either
by us； or by the sun his father。 For one person whom we know of as
having identified him； there will be five； of whom we know nothing；
and whom we cannot square。 Reports will reach the King sooner or
later； and I shall be sent for。 Meanwhile the Professors will be
living in fear of intrigue on my part； and I； however unreasonably；
shall fear the like on theirs。 This should not be。 I mean；
therefore； on the day following my return from escorting the
prisoner； to set out for the capital； see the King； and make a
clean breast of the whole matter。 To this end I must have the
nuggets； the prisoner's kit； his receipt； Professor Hanky's
handkerchief； and； of course； the two depositions just sworn to by
the Professors。 I hope and think that the King will pardon us all