“Well then who did?” He was more than willing, and quite actually relieved, to believe that it was Dominic Savio. But that only meant that someone else was responsible for the prank.
However, at the question of who had done it, the group of boys exchanged silent glances. After a few shoulder shrugs, the answer came back that they didn't know who put the stones in the stove.
It didn't take much of Fr. Culgiero's intelligence to deduce there was something very odd and selective about the information he was receiving. These boys knew it was not Dominic Savio, while at the same time they didn't know who was at fault.
Anxious to discover Savio's innocence, the priest dismissed the small group and called for Dominic. The eleven year old obediently made his way to the teacher's desk.
“Answer me, Dominic! Did you do it?”
“No.” he said quietly. Relief and impatience seemed to swell in the priest all at once.
“Then why didn't you say something before?” Then, more gently, he added, “I would not have punished you as I did and the real culprit would have been found.”
“That's just it, Father,” the young saint said, “This would have only been my first offense and therefore my punishment would be less. On the other hand, the boy who did it was on his last chance. And besides,” Dominic saved the best 'excuse' for last. “When Jesus was unjustly accused, he didn't say anything either.”
Fr. Culgiero was deeply impressed. There was no pretend piety in this one. From experience alone, the priest knew boys very well and receiving a false mark on a spotless record is hardly appealing to anyone, much less a young boy. And to take on the unjust punishment as well? Father's face grew stern. Whoever had set Savio up for this would not escape punishment.
