ket practice. Indeed, for a little
while he gave up all thought of going out, and it was not till a
messenger arrived to tell him he was keeping everybody waiting that he
screwed himself up to the effort and went.

Riddell meanwhile, with the other half of his mission still to execute,
went over to Parrett's. Parson was lounging about at the door, with a
towel over his arm, waiting, as any one might have guessed, for Telson.

"Has Bloomfield gone out?" asked the captain of this youthful hero.

Parson, who ever since the famous breakfast in Riddell's room had looked
upon the captain with eyes of favour, replied, "No, I don't think so,
I'll go and see if you like."

"Thanks. If he's in, tell him I want to speak to him."

"All serene. Hold my towel, do you mind? It's Bosher's, and he may try
to collar it if he sees me. And tell Telson I'll be back in a second."

And off he went, leaving the captain in charge of Bosher's towel.

He soon returned with a message that Bloomfield was getting up, and
would be out in a minute or two.

"I say," said he, after the two had waited impatiently some time, each
for his own expected schoolfellow, "did you see much of the fight last
night?"

"No," said Riddell, "I didn't see it at all."

"Oh, hard lines. I got there late, as I went to tell Telson. Gilks
used his right too much, you know. We both thought so. He keeps no
guard to speak of, and-- Hullo! where on earth have you been all this
time?"

This last exclamation was in honour of Telson, who appeared on the scene
at that moment, and with whom the speaker joyfully departed, leaving
Riddell only half informed as to the scientific defects in Gilks's style
of boxing.

In due time Bloomfield appeared, not a little curious to know the object
of this early interview.

Riddell, too, was embarrassed, for the last time they met they had
parted on anything but cordial terms. However, that had nothing to do
with his duty now.

"Good-morning," he said, in reply to Bloomfield's nod. "Do you mind
taking a turn? I want to tell you something."

Bloomfield obeyed, and that morning any one who looked out might have
witnessed the unusual spectacle of the Willoughby captains walking
together round the quadrangle in eager conversation.

"You heard of the fight?" said Riddell.

"Yes; what about it?" inquired Bloomfield.

"I've reported it. And last night Silk came to me and asked me to get
back the names."

"You won't