The Magician's Sons

Chapter 53

Norman's temper hadn't cooled very much by the time breakfast was over on that first fateful day. He was still fuming over the wicked turn he thought Copernicus had taken and dwelling on the "groundless" accusation which the boy had thrown at him.

"We should have known better than to have taken in a boy who had crawled out of such corruption!" he muttered to himself. "You cannot change what fate has set in place!"

He imagined the lowly, degraded mother and the shameful, drunkard father who must have abandoned Copper long ago. They had thrown him upon the mercy of a more dignified citizen, but that hadn't changed the inborn evil of the child. Copernicus had stamped on everything good and had thrown himself willingly into the darkest cesspool of London. Had Norman and his father really imagined that they could change him? Disgusting.

After brooding for hours, Norman expected the young offender to come creeping into Jasper's study where Norman was busy writing a letter. But time passed by steadily and no apologetic scamp came. At last, Norman heard footsteps and looked up to see Mr. Tummel passing down the hall.

"Tummel!" he called, on edge with curiosity and wariness.

The butler peeked in. "Yes, sir?"

"Where is Copernicus? He is not making trouble somewhere in the house I hope?"

A little pride glittered on the man's face. "Indeed, no, sir! You will have no more reason to fear his destructive hands! Your command was obeyed to the fullest extent. The boy is gone."

"Gone!" Norman gave a start. He had spoken rashly earlier, but he hadn't actually expected things to go like this. "Do you mean that the boy actually left?"

"Goodness no! The unscrupulous rogue would have stayed and taken advantage of his free lodgings and food for days to come, no doubt. But an order is an order, sir. We heard you command the little imp to leave the property. And, seeing he was disinclined to do so, we forced a little obedience. You did want us to act upon your commands, did you not, sir? After all, I was made to understand that you were acting as master of the house in your father's absence."

Norman felt shocked and almost frightened by the power his words had had. Even when he had shouted his bitter command, he had really intended to keep the boy under house arrest until his father returned. But what could he say? If he gave any hint of uncertainty, his authority would fail in the house.

"Um...yes, of course," he faltered, trying to justify himself. "After all, it wouldn't do to keep a thief in the house!"

"I agree, sir. And it was a merciful decision! By all rights, you might have thrown the wretch to the police!"

That is true, Norman thought, grabbing at straws to find comfort for his panging conscience. It would have been legally right for me to bring Copper before a magistrate. And then he would have been sentenced to some sort of punishment; imprisonment or penal servitude perhaps. He would have deserved it too! But I didn't go out of my way to hurt him. Isn't that what father would call 'returning good for evil'? Under the circumstances, what else could I have done?

He never fully convinced himself. He could never get over the sickening feeling that he had made a dreadful mistake. But he fought his conscience with vigor. Even if he couldn't find peace about his decision, he determined to go on as if he had acted with the greatest wisdom. There was no turning back now. Pride demanded that he keep his head held high and make everyone else feel that he believed in his own decision.

A day passed by in misery. Doubts sometimes came to plague him. How could Copper be a thief? He had seemed so sincere, so innocent and devoted. Sometimes, Norman almost missed seeing the lad across the room and being able to meet the boy's admiring gaze. But the lad's guise of goodness only made Copernicus more deceitful. The ungrateful wretch. He had convinced everyone of his pure heart and had been about to turn on them in the end. It was inexcusable.