eir
after-dinner coffee at Hooper's, as in the old time. The conversation
was _staccato_ at first, but interesting.

"But who sent the order?" said Gus.

"Dunno, really; but I could almost bet my boots that Taylor is the
criminal."

"Taylor! What does he know of my affairs?"

"Well, that beastly house list with your red raw agony column made him
most suspicious, and I believe he knows to a hair exactly how big a cad
I've been."

"Go on, old man; leave that."

"He sucked Philips dry about the Penfold tombstone, and although he said
nothing to me personally, Philips gave me to understand that I'm not in
favour with the parson. Taylor is the man who's provided your sub. for
the Penfold, take my word for it."

"He's not half such a bad fellow, Jim."

"No," said Jim, with an uneasy laugh; "Taylor's all right, but he'll
make me squirm when he has the chance."

The friendship of Cotton and Todd was thus renewed and cemented--with
Gus's bluest blood. Gus gave Jim some good advice about the schools,
which made Jim feel a bit dubious.

"Chuck your Bohn's cribs and your keys under the grate, and show up
your own work."

"Footle, you mean, Gus."

"All right, footle, then. I know all our own private personal beaks
would rather have a fellow's own work, if of fair quality, than all the
weirdest screeds from any crib whatsoever."

Jim made the experiment, very gingerly, be it said, but did show up his
own work, and from Corker to Merishall all the beaks were civil to him.
Gus's reputation as a prophet was established, for Corker himself seemed
pleased with the Cottonian version of Herodotus.

"Rather rough in parts, Cotton," said the old man, beaming on the
shrinking Jim; "but at least you've not been ploughing Herodotus with
the help of your old ass, Bohn."

Jim's effort, however, came too late to affect in any degree his
position in the Fifth. When the lists of the Easter term were published,
Cotton was the last, deservedly, of the form, but A.V.R. Todd was the
seventh. This was an eye-opener to many in the form, but the result sent
Gus into the seventh heaven of delight. Taylor came specially into
Todd's modest sanctum to congratulate him, and Corker sent an extra
special letter to Todd senior, saying all manner of sweet things about
Gus. He put the highest mark of his favour upon the delighted Gus by
asking him to dinner--a very great honour, but a dreadful ordeal. Gus
was wonderfully nervous as he commenced h