o involve Arthur
any further in the business.

"The thing is," said Arthur, still sorely puzzled, "if it wasn't you,
who was it?"

Railsford smiled.

"That is a question a great many persons are asking. But you are the
only boy I have met with who has no doubt in his mind that I was the
guilty person."

Arthur winced.

"I'm awfully sorry, sir," said he. "I'll tell them all you had nothing
to do with it."

"I think you had better say nothing. How do you know I am not telling
you a lie now?"

Arthur winced once more. He would have preferred if Railsford had given
him one hundred lines for daring to suspect him, and had done with it.

"I say," said he, "you needn't tell them at home, Marky. I know I was a
cad, especially when you were such a brick that night at the abbey, and
I'll never do it again. They'd be awfully down on me if they knew."

"My dear boy, you are not a cad, and I shall certainly not tell anyone
of your little mistake. But leave me now; I have a lot of things to
think about. Good-night."

Arthur returned to his room in dejected spirits.

He had made a fool of himself, he knew, and done his best friend an
injustice; consequently he felt, for once in a way, thoroughly ashamed
of himself. What irritated him most of all was the loss of the articles
he had so carefully treasured up as evidence against somebody.

"Felgate's collared them, that's certain," said he, "and why?"

"He has a big row on with Marky," replied Dig; "I expect he means to
bowl him out about this."

"That's it," said Arthur, "that's what he's up to. I say, Dig, we ought
to be able to pay him out, you and I; and save old Marky."

"I'm game," said Dig; "but how?"

"Get the things back, anyhow. Let's see, they've got something on at
the Forum to-night, haven't they?"

"Yes--two to one he'll be there. Why, of course he will; he's got to
second the motion--something about the fine arts."

Arthur laughed.

"We'll try a bit of fine art on him, I vote. Come on, old man; we'll
have a look round his rooms for the traps."

So they sallied out, and after peeping into the Forum on their way, to
ascertain that their man was safely there, they marched boldly up-stairs
to his study. If it had not been for the righteousness of their cause,
these boys might have thought twice before entering anyone's room in his
absence. But Arthur in his present temper had cast to the winds all
scruples, and regarding himself merely