On the discovery of Burke's robbery an investigation was set on foot,
but with no prospect of success, and without in any way involving the
Hogans, who were strongly suspected. It was clearly proved that Philip
and one of his brothers slept in their usual residence--Cavanagh's
corn-kiln--on that night, but it was admitted that Batt Hogan and his
wife Kate were both abroad the greater portion of it. On them suspicion
might, indeed, very naturally have rested, were it not for the evidence
of Hycy himself, who at once admitted that he could exonerate them from
any suspicion, as he knew both how and where they had passed the night
in question. So far, therefore, the Hogans, dishonest as they were
unquestionably reputed to be, now stood perfectly exonerated from all
suspicion.
The lapse of a very few days generally cools down the ferment occasioned
by matters of this kind, especially when public curiosity is found to be
at fault in developing the whole train of circumstances connected with
them. All the in-door servants, it is true, were rigorously examined,
yet it somehow happened that Hycy could not divest himself of a
suspicion that Nanny Peety was in some way privy to the disappearance
of the money. In about three or four days he happened to see her thrust
something into her father's bag, which he carried as a mendicant, and he
could not avoid remarking that there was in her whole manner, which was
furtive and hurried, an obvious consciousness of something that was not
right.
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