."

Dumbleton opened the door. Young man and servant passed out and into
the passage beyond. Warde waited one moment, then he followed them
into the passage; but instead of going upstairs, he paused for an
instant with his fingers upon the handle of the door which led from the
private side to the boys' quarters. He sighed as he passed through.

At this moment Lovell was sitting in his room alone with Scaife. They
had no suspicion of what had taken place in the study. In the
afternoon there had been a match with an Old Harrovian team, and both
Scaife and Lovell had played for the School. But as yet neither had
got his Flannels. As Warde passed through the private side door,
Scaife was saying angrily--

"I believe Challoner" (Challoner was captain of the football Eleven and
a monitor) "has a grudge against us. If we had a chance--and we
had--of getting our Flannels last year, why isn't it a cert. this, eh?"

Lovell shrugged his shoulders.

"It is a cert.," he answered; "and you're right. Challoner doesn't
like us, and it amuses him to keep us out of our just rights. The
monitors know I detest 'em, and they don't think you're called the
Demon for nothing. Challoner is more of a monitor than a
footer-player. How about a rubber? There's just time."

"I don't mind."

Lovell went to the door and opened it.

"Bo-o-o-o-o-o-y!"

The familiar cry--that imperious call which makes an Harrovian feel
himself master of more or less willing slaves--echoed through the
house. Immediately the night-fag came running; it was not considered
healthy to keep Lovell waiting.

"Ask Beaumont-Greene to come up here and----"

He paused. Warde had just turned the corner, and was approaching.
Lovell hesitated. Then he repeated what he had just said, with a
slight variation for Warde's benefit. "Tell him I want to ask him a
question about the house-subscriptions."

"Right," said the fag, bustling off.

Lovell waited to receive his house-master. He had very good manners.

"Can I do anything for you, sir?" he asked.

"Yes," said Warde, deliberately. He entered Lovell's room and looked
at Scaife, who rose at once.

"I wish to speak with you alone, Lovell."

"Certainly, sir. Won't you sit down?"

Warde waited till Scaife had closed the door, then he said quietly--

"Lovell, does Beaumont-Greene owe you money?"

[1] The Anglo-Saxon form of Harrow.

[2] The terminal examination.

[3] "Inasmuch as ye have d