CHAPTER VI: THE THIEF DETECTED.
Mr.Porson was in his place next morning, having returned only half an hour before school began; he looked fagged, and he was scarcely so attentive as usual to the lessons, his thoughts seeming to be elsewhere.
"He seems regularly done up with his journey," Ripon said as the boys came out of school.
"I think he is upset about something," Ned remarked.

"Sometimes he hardly seemed paying attention to what was going on, and he did not speak as cheerfully as usual.

I noticed a sort of change in his voice directly he began.

I hope nothing wrong has occurred, we were getting on so jollily." When afternoon school began Mr.Porson placed on the desk before him a packet done up in brown paper.
"Boys," he said, "I have got my book again." An exclamation of surprise and pleasure burst from the boys.

The mystery had weighed heavily on the school, and a look of eager curiosity came over every face to hear how the book had been recovered.
"It was found in a bookseller's shop in York," Mr.Porson went on.