thoroughly convinced of his guilt and of Norris's innocence; and that
while you are determined that Norris shall be vindicated, you are
desirous that his act of treacherous villainy shall not be made public;
if, then, he will write a confession, saying that he took it, this
confession shall not be made public.

"I shall of course show it to the Doctor, and explain the whole
circumstances to him, and ask him to make a public statement in school
to the boys, to the effect that it has been found out that Norris was
not guilty of the act of which two years ago he was charged, and that
the real thief has been discovered, but that as he is no longer at
school it is unnecessary now to mention his name, and that, moreover, he
has been heavily punished for the crime--which indeed is the case--by
his loss of your favour and of the fortune which he looked to obtain
under your will.

"I shall tell Barkley that if he refuses to confess it will be
necessary, in order to clear Norris, that the affair should be
investigated in a Public Court, and that Dr. Litter will at once apply
for a warrant for his apprehension on the charge of theft, and that the
whole matter will then be gone into in a Police Court. I cannot doubt
but that he will accept the first alternative, for the second will be
ruin to him."

Captain Bayley cordially assented. Three days later Frank received a
letter from Dr. Litter asking him to call upon him.

"I am truly sorry, Norris," the head-master said, as he entered, "for
the injustice I did you; truly and heartily sorry. The affair caused me
intense pain at the time; it has been on my mind ever since. Over and
over again something has told me that you were innocent; and yet,
thinking the case over again, my reason has always convinced me for the
time of your guilt, for I could see no other possible solution of the
mystery. I am glad indeed to find that I was mistaken, and that you were
a victim of a piece of what I can only term villainy. The affair will be
a lesson to me for my life, and henceforth I will never allow
appearances, however apparently conclusive, to weigh against a uniformly
excellent character. I trust that you will forgive my terrible error."

"I don't see that you could have acted otherwise, sir," Frank said, "for
even at the time, although I knew that I was innocent, I perceived that
the proofs against me were so overwhelmingly strong that my guilt must
appear a certainty to every one. I am