have accepted the privileges of your order with the deliberate
intention of ignoring its duties, you have not acted like a man of
honour."

"Sir!"

"Don't bluff! Now, for the last time, will you give me what I have
given you--trust?"

"I have nothing more to say," Lovell answered stiffly.

"And you, Scaife?"

"I am sorry, sir, that Beaumont-Greene has been such a fool. We lent
him this money, because he wanted it badly; and he said he would pay us
back before the end of the term."

"You stick to that story?"

"Why, yes, sir. Why should we tell you a lie?"

"Ah, why, indeed?" sighed Warde. Then his voice grew hard and sharp.
The persuasiveness, the carefully-framed sentences, gave place to his
curtest manner. "This matter," said he, "is out of my hands. The Head
Master will deal with it. I must ask you for your keys, Lovell."

"And if I refuse to give them up?"

"Then we must break into your boxes. Thanks." He took the keys.
"Follow me, please."

The pair followed him into the private side, upstairs, and into the
sick-room. There were three beds in it; upon one sat Beaumont-Greene.
His complexion turned a sickly drab when he saw Lovell and Scaife. He
even glanced at the window with a hunted expression. The window was
three stories from the ground, and heavily barred ever since a boy in
delirium had tried to jump from it.

"Your night-things will be brought to you," said Warde.

He went out slowly. The boys heard the key turn in the massive lock.
They were prisoners. Scaife walked up to Beaumont-Greene.

"You told Warde about the bridge?"

"Ye-es; I had to. Scaife, don't look at me like that. Lovell"--his
voice broke into a terrified scream--"don't let him hit me. I couldn't
help it--I swear I----"

"You cur!" said Scaife. "I wouldn't touch you with a forty-foot pole."

Just what passed between Warde and the Head Master must be surmised.
Carefully hidden in Lovell's boxes were found cards and markers. Upon
the latter remained the results of the last game played, and under the
winning column a rough calculation in pounds, shillings, and pence.
There were no names.

Next day, during first school, a notice came round to each Form to be
in the Speech-room at 8.30. Not a boy knew or guessed the reason of
this summons. The Manorites, aware that three of their House were in
the sickroom, believed that an infectious disease had broken out. Only
Desmond, John, and the Caterpillar exp