o tell the doctor, of
course, and there's no knowing what he will do. But it's been your best
chance to make a clean breast of it while you had the opportunity."

The wretched Munger departed to his bed, but not to sleep. He could not
conceive how Railsford first, and then these three prefects, should have
discovered his deeply hidden secret. Not a word about it had escaped
his own lips. Branscombe was away, and Clipstone scarcely anyone in
Railsford's house ever saw. But the secret was out, and what kept
Hunger awake that night was neither shame nor remorse, but fear lest he
should be expelled, or, perhaps worse, arrested!

The three prefects sat late, talking over their wonderful discovery.
"It's good as far as it goes," said Barnworth. "But it doesn't clear up
the question how Railsford got to hear of it, and what his motive has
been in shielding the criminals. It can't have been on Munger's
account, for the two have been at war all the term; and I don't suppose
since the affair he has exchanged two words with either Branscombe or
Clipstone."

"Don't you think," said the captain, "that now we do know all about it,
we might go and ask him?"

It was a brilliant suggestion, and they went.

But Railsford was in bed and asleep; and his visitors, important as was
their business, had not the hardihood to arouse him, and were
reluctantly obliged to postpone their explanation till the morning.

Even then they seemed destined to be thwarted; for Railsford had gone
for a bathe in the river, and only returned in time for call-over; when
of course there was no opportunity for a private conference.

But as soon as breakfast was over they determined to catch him in his
room, and put an end to their suspense there and then.

Alas! not five minutes before they arrived, Railsford had gone out, this
time, as Cooke informed them, to the doctor's.

It seemed a fatality, and who was to say whether his next move might be
to quit Grandcourt without even giving them a chance?

"The only thing to do is to go and catch him at the doctor's," said
Ainger; "we've a right to go--at least I have--to report Munger."

"All serene," said Barnworth, "better for you to go alone. It would
only put Pony's back up if we all went."

For once in his life Ainger felt that there were some dignities
connected with the captaincy of a house; and for once in his life he
would have liked to transfer those dignities to any shoulders but his
own