ther wise.

"Do you think the men will own up?" said Gordon.

"Not unless they're most abandoned fools," replied Lovelace.

There was only one topic of conversation at tea, and afterwards
Lovelace, Hobson and Gordon discussed the affair keenly in No. 1. They
all agreed that the men would not own up, and the general opinion was
that someone in Christy's was responsible. Discussion raged fiercely as
to who it was. Gordon was all for it being Isaacs, Lovelace for
Everington, Hunter for Mead. The point was being debated, when Tester
and Bradford came in.

"Hullo, come in," shouted Gordon, "we are having a great fight about
this. I say Isaacs is the most likely man. What do you think?"

Tester looked round carefully, and then began anxiously:

"Look here, you men; swear you won't tell a soul if we tell you
something."

The oath was taken.

"Well, it's us!"

There was a hush. "Good Gawd!" said Hunter. Silence ensued; but
curiosity soon overcame surprise.

"What did you say, by the by?" asked Gordon.

Tester repeated as far as he could remember the exact words.

"Yes, you know; it was a bit hot, wasn't it? I expect you opened the
blighter's eyes a bit. He wasn't used to that sort of literature."

In spite of themselves Tester and Bradford laughed. They had been
vaguely aware of a tired-looking figure in a Sam Browne as they left the
canteen. He had looked "some ass." But Gordon soon became serious again.

"What are you men going to do? Of course you won't own up."

"We can't very well. I am in the Sixth and Bradford's had one row this
term, and of course, I was the criminal. I am supposed to be a
responsible personage."

"Of course, owning up's out of the question."

"But do you think anything will happen?" Bradford was a little
frightened. "I mean will there be a sort of general inspection?"

"You bet there won't. When a master begs men to own up, it means that
he's up the spout. It's much more fun catching a fellow red-handed. And,
after all, you two are the last people anyone would think of."

"Of course, it's all right," said Lovelace; "there's only one thing to
do. You talk of nothing else but this rotten affair; talk about it in
the Toe, in the changing-room, in form, in chapel, if you like. Ask
people you meet if they've owned up. Treat the whole thing as a glorious
rag."

"Yes," shouted Gordon, "let's go down to Rudd and tell him if he doesn't
own up we'll give him hell."

And in truth the ne