FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154  
155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   >>   >|  
handkerchief, closed his note-book, and turned to Dexter. "Now then," he said. "Let us see." He took the sheet of paper, looked at one side, turned it over and looked at the other, and then raised his eyes to Dexter's, which avoided his gaze directly. "What is this?" he cried. "The equations, sir," said Dexter humbly. "Tut--tut--tut!" ejaculated Mr Limpney. "Was there ever such a boy? _plus_ where it ought to be _minus_, and--why, what's this!" "This, sir?" said Dexter. "Half-crowns." "But it was to be oranges. How many did he buy? and here you say he bought ninety-seven half-crowns. I don't know how you arrived at it, or what you mean. A man does not go to a shop to buy half-crowns. He spent half a crown in oranges." "Yes, sir." "I believe it's sheer obstinacy. You do not want to do these equations--simple equations too, mind you! Now then, about the stage-coaches. When did they meet, and in what time from starting? Now then--there are your figures, where did they meet? Look and tell me." Dexter took the half-sheet of paper, stared at it very doubtfully, and then looked up. "Well!" said Mr Limpney. "Where did they meet?" "Peterborough, sir." "Where!" cried Mr Limpney in astonishment. "Peterborough, sir." "Now, will you have the goodness to tell me how you found out that?" "On the map, sir." "Bless my soul!" exclaimed the tutor. "Well, go on. At what time from starting!" "About ten o'clock, sir." "Better and better," said the tutor sarcastically. "Now, will you kindly explain--no, no, don't look at your figures--Will you kindly explain how you arrived at this sapient conclusion?" Dexter hesitated, and shifted one foot over the other. "Well, sir, I am waiting," cried Mr Limpney, in a tone of voice which made Dexter think very much resembled that of Mr Sibery when he was angry. "I--I--" "Don't hesitate, sir. Have I not told you again and again that a gentleman never hesitates, but speaks out at once? Now then, I ask you how you arrived at this wonderful conclusion?" "I tried over and over again, sir, with the _a's_ and _b's_, and then I thought I must guess it." "And did you guess it?" "No, sir, I suddenly recollected what you said." "And pray, what did I say!" "Why, sir, you always said let _x_ represent the unknown quantity, and-- and _x_ stands for ten--ten o'clock." Mr Limpney snatched the paper from the boy's hand, and was about
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154  
155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Dexter
 

Limpney

 

equations

 

arrived

 

crowns

 
looked
 
starting
 

explain

 
kindly
 

conclusion


figures

 

Peterborough

 
oranges
 

turned

 
Better
 

speaks

 
recollected
 
sarcastically
 

hesitates

 

gentleman


snatched

 

exclaimed

 

stands

 

unknown

 

represent

 

quantity

 

suddenly

 

resembled

 

Sibery

 

thought


sapient

 
hesitate
 

waiting

 

shifted

 

hesitated

 
wonderful
 

ejaculated

 
bought
 

humbly

 
handkerchief

closed
 

raised

 
directly
 
avoided
 

ninety

 

coaches

 
stared
 

doubtfully

 
goodness
 

astonishment