CHAPTER 5: Summary
Silas returned to his cottage, thinking nothing of the unlocked door because he has never been robbed before. He was looking forward to the roast pork, a gift from a customer, which he left cooking while he was running an errand. Noticing nothing out of the ordinary, Silas sat down before his fire. He decided to lay the money on the table as he ate. Silas removed the bricks and found the hole under the floorboards empty. He frantically searched the cottage for his gold, desperately hoping that he might have decided to store it elsewhere for the night. He eventually realised that the gold had been stolen and he screamed in anguish. Silas then tries to think of what could have happened. He initially feared that a greater power removed the money to ruin him a second time, but banished that thought in favour of the simpler explanation of a robbery. He mentally ran through a list of possible neighbours who could have robbed him and decided that Jem Rodney, a well-known poacher, might have taken the gold. Silas decides to declare his loss to the important people of the town, including Squire Cass, in the hope that they might be able to help recover his money. Silas went to the Rainbow, the village inn, to find someone of authority. However, the more prominent citizens of Raveloe were all at the birthday dance and Silas could not find anyone of authority there.
 Q1. Why did Silas go to Rainbow Inn when he did not find his money?
Ans. Silas went to the Rainbow Inn because it was the most logical place to inform the authorities that he’d been robbed. Marner must have felt that he must go and proclaim his loss; and the great people in the village–the clergyman, the constable, and Squire Cass—would make Jem Rodney, or somebody else, deliver up the stolen money. He rushed out in the rain, under the stimulus of this hope, forgetting to cover his head, not caring to fasten his door; for he felt as if he had nothing left to lose. He ran swiftly, till want of breath compelled him to slacken his pace as he was entering the village at the turning close to the Rainbow. However, the more prominent citizens of Raveloe were all at the birthday dance and Silas could not find anyone of authority there.
