at chance was there of keeping the house together for a
day?

"Come in here a minute, you fellows," said Ainger, as they reached the
captain's door. "We _must_ do something to stop it."

"That's a very feeble observation to make," said Barnworth. "Is that
what you want us to come in here for?"

"No, hang it, Barnworth! there's no time for chaff at present. What I
want to say is, have we tried every possible means of finding out who
scragged Bickers last term?"

"I think so," said Stafford. "Every one in the house has denied it. If
it's one of our fellows, it's probably the biggest liar among us."

"Which means Felgate?" said Ainger.

"Or Munger," said Barnworth.

"It's not Felgate," said Ainger, "for he has burnt his fingers in trying
to fix it on Railsford himself; and it he was the real culprit, you may
depend on it he'd have kept very quiet."

"Munger _has_ kept quiet," said Barnworth.

"Munger! Why, he's a fool and a coward both. He could never have done
such a thing."

"Let's ask him. I'll tell you why I mentioned him. I never thought of
it till now. The other day I happened to be saying at dinner to
somebody that that affair was going to be cleared up at last, and that
the doctor had been in consultation with Bickers and Railsford about it
the evening before--you know, that's what we were told--and would
probably come across--this was an embellishment of my own--with a
policeman, and point the fellow out. Munger was sitting opposite me,
and when I began to speak he had just filled his tumbler with water, and
was going to drink it. But half-way through he suddenly stopped, and
put the tumbler down with such a crack on the table that he spilt half
the water on to the cloth. I didn't think anything of it at the time,
but it occurs to me now."

"Well," said Ainger, "it's an off-chance. Staff, do you mind bringing
him?"

"The one thing to do," said Barnworth, while the messenger was gone, "is
to frighten it out of him. Nothing else will do."

"Well," said Ainger, "if you think so. You must back me up, though."

After a long interval, Stafford returned to say that Munger was in bed
and refused to get up.

"Good," said Barnworth; "I like that. Now, Staff, you amiable old boy,
will you kindly go to him again and say that the prefects are waiting
for him in the captain's study, and that if he is not here in five
minutes they will have to do without him. I fancy that's true, isn't
it?"