The reply seemed to satisfy Walker; but there was one person in the
room to whom Jack knew he would have to make a full confession. While
dressing he avoided Valentine's questioning glances, but after
breakfast he was forced to give his cousin a full account of all that
had happened. A dark frown settled on the latter's face as he listened
to the recital, which he several times interrupted with impatient
ejaculations.

"I knew you'd be in a wax with me," concluded Jack, with an air of
defiance; "but it can't be helped now. You'll never make a saint of
me, Val, old chap, so don't let's quarrel."

"It's not you that I'm angry with," answered Valentine wrathfully,
"it's that beast of a Raymond. It's just his way to get other people
into a mess, and leave them to get out of it as best they can. I
suppose he never paid up his share of the money you spent?"

"Not he. Never mind, we got out of the bother a lot better than I
expected."

Valentine shook his head.

"I hope to goodness you won't be found out," he said anxiously. "If
you are, you'll stand a jolly good chance of being expelled."

"Oh, we're safe enough. Don't you fret," answered Jack
lightly.--"Hallo, Tinkleby, what's up with you?"

The president of the Fifth Form Literary Society was striding across
the gravel, fingering his nippers, as he always did when excited.

"Haven't you heard?" he answered. "Some one's in for a thundering row,
I can tell you."

"Why, what do you mean?"

"Why, Mullins says that some man from the fair came this morning, and
wanted to see the headmaster. He says one of our fellows was up there
last night, kicking up a fine shindy, and set his show on fire; and he
means to find out who it is, and summon him for damages. Mullins told
him he'd better call again later on, as Westford was at breakfast. My
eye! I pity the chap who did it, if it's true, and he's collared."

The clang of the school bell ended the conversation, and Tinkleby
rushed off to impart his news to other classmates.

The distressed look on Valentine's face deepened, but he said nothing.

"Pooh!" exclaimed Jack, sticking his hands in his pockets, and making
the gravel fly with a vicious kick. "Let him come and say what he
likes. What do I care?"

The school had reassembled after the usual interval, and the Sixth Form
were sitting in their classroom waiting for the arrival of the
headmaster. A quarter of an hour passed, and still he did not arr