treet, and the fags breathlessly repeated what Desmond had
predicted a year ago: the Demon was the coming man. And always, when
John and Desmond passed him, John thought he could read a derisive
triumph upon the Demon's handsome face, an expression which said
plainly: "You young fool, don't you know that I'm playing cat and mouse
with _you_?"

The three still met twice daily to prepare work. But the moment that was
done, Scaife disappeared, leaving John and Desmond together.

"He's playing bridge in Lovell's room," said Desmond.

More facts were gleaned from the Caterpillar, who had joined the
bridge-players, but played seldom.

"One draws the line," said he, "at playing for stakes one can't afford
to lose. Lovell and the Demon have made it too hot."

"And Warde will make it hotter," said John.

"Not he," replied the Caterpillar. "The Demon is a wonder. Thanks to his
brains, detection is impossible. He suggested that Lovell's room should
be used. Warde wouldn't dare to burst in upon one of the Sixth. And you
ought to see their dodgy arrangements. Lovell has his young brother on
guard. I'm hanged if the Demon didn't invent a sort of drill, which they
go through with a stop-watch. It's a star performance, I tell you. Young
Lovell bolts in. In thirty-five seconds--they have got it down to
that--the cards and markers are hidden; and the four of 'em are jawing
away about footer."

"All the same," said John, obstinately, "Warde will be too much for
'em."

"Oh, rot!" said the Caterpillar.

The Manor got into the semi-finals of the football matches, and when the
School broke up for the Christmas holidays it was generally conceded
that the fortunes of the ancient house were mending. In the Manor itself
Warde's influence was hardly yet perceptible: only a very few knew that
it was diffusing itself, percolating into nooks and crevices undreamed
of: the hearts of the Fourth Form, for instance. In Dirty Dick's time
there had been almost universal slackness. In pupil-room Rutford read a
book; boys could work or not as they pleased, provided their tutor was
not disturbed. Warde, on the other hand, made it a point of honour to
work with his pupils. His indefatigable energies, his good humour, his
patience, were never so conspicuous as when he was coaching duffers. In
other ways he made the boys realize that he was at the Manor for their
advantage, not his own. The gardens and park were kept strictly private
by Dirty Dick. Wa