-of
getting our Flannels last year, why isn't it a cert. this, eh?"

Lovell shrugged his shoulders.

"It is a cert.," he answered; "and you're right. Challoner doesn't like
us, and it amuses him to keep us out of our just rights. The monitors
know I detest 'em, and they don't think you're called the Demon for
nothing. Challoner is more of a monitor than a footer-player. How about
a rubber? There's just time."

"I don't mind."

Lovell went to the door and opened it.

"Bo-o-o-o-o-o-y!"

The familiar cry--that imperious call which makes an Harrovian feel
himself master of more or less willing slaves--echoed through the house.
Immediately the night-fag came running; it was not considered healthy to
keep Lovell waiting.

"Ask Beaumont-Greene to come up here and----" He paused. Warde had just
turned the corner, and was approaching. Lovell hesitated. Then he
repeated what he had just said, with a slight variation for Warde's
benefit. "Tell him I want to ask him a question about the
house-subscriptions."

"Right," said the fag, bustling off.

Lovell waited to receive his house-master. He had very good manners.

"Can I do anything for you, sir?" he asked.

"Yes," said Warde, deliberately. He entered Lovell's room and looked at
Scaife, who rose at once.

"I wish to speak with you alone, Lovell."

"Certainly, sir. Won't you sit down?"

Warde waited till Scaife had closed the door; then he said quietly--

"Lovell, does Beaumont-Greene owe you money?"

FOOTNOTES:

[28] The Anglo-Saxon form of Harrow.

[29] The terminal examination.

[30] "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My
brethren, ye have done it unto Me."

CHAPTER X

_Decapitation_

"Ferdinand Mendez Pinto was but a type of thee, thou liar of the
first magnitude!"

Lovell betrayed his astonishment by a slight start; however, he faced
Warde with a smile. Warde, clean-shaven, alert, with youthful figure,
looked but little older than his pupil. For a moment the two stared
steadily at each other; then, very politely, Lovell said--

"No, sir, he does not."

Warde continued curtly, "Then he has paid you what he did owe you?"

Lovell nodded, shrugging his shoulders. Plainly, Warde had discovered
the fact of the debt. Probably that fool Beaumont-Greene had applied to
his father, and the father had written to Warde. It was unthinkable that
Warde knew more than this. Having reached this conclusion, Lovell turn