rked on it."

"And yet you never saw it."

"Of course I didn't," retorted Dick, beginning to feel hot. "I've told
you so twice--Coote saw it."

"Yes," said Coote, "there was a tiny label on it."

"We can't make up quite thirty shillings," said Heathcote; "but we've
got twenty-seven shillings and sixpence. I suppose you'll make that
do?"

"_Do_ you suppose I'll make it do?" said Mr Webster, beginning to feel
hot, too. "You think you can come to my shop, and pilfer my things like
so many young pickpockets; and then you have the impudence to come and
offer me part of the price to say nothing about it. No, thank you.
That's not my way of doing business."

"There's nothing else we can do," said Dick.

"Oh, yes, there is. You can march off to the lockup--all three of you
if you like; but one of you, anyhow. And so you will, as sure as I
stand here."

"Oh, Mr Webster, I say, please don't say that. He never took it,
really he didn't."

"Come, that'll do. Twelve o'clock to-morrow, unless I get the pencil,
you'll get a call from the police. Off you go. I've had enough of
you."

And the bookseller, whose temper had gradually been evaporating during
the visit, bustled our heroes out of the shop, and slammed the door
behind them.

"It's all up, old man," said Heathcote, lugubriously. "I did think the
cad would shut up for twenty-seven shillings and sixpence."

"I'm afraid he wants me more than the money," said Coote. "Whatever
_can_ I do?"

"You can't prove you didn't take it; that's the worst," said Dick.

"He can't prove I did. He only thinks I did. How I wish I _had_ that
stupid pencil."

With which original conclusion they returned to Templeton. Dick, under
cover of his _exeats_ marched ostentatiously in. The other two, in a
far more modest and shy manner, entered by their hands and knees, on
receipt of a signal from their leader that the coast was clear.

Heathcote deemed it prudent not to exhibit himself in the Den, and
therefore retired to Pledge's study as the place least likely to be
dangerous.

Pledge was there working.

"Hullo, youngster," said he, "what's been your little game this evening?
Been to a prayer meeting?"

"No," said Heathcote laconically.

It was no part of Pledge's manner to appear inquisitive. He saw there
was a mystery, and knew better than to appear in the slightest degree
anxious to solve it.

He had as yet heard nothing of the newly-formed alliance in low