In addition to our two friends, three other boys, who had evidently taken no active part in the proceedings, still remained at some seats next to the wall; while Lucas, with hair dishevelled, waistcoat torn open, and collar flying loose, stood flushed and panting amid the _debris_ of his overturned desk.
"Well, I'm sure!" said Gull, with a short laugh; "you fellows seem to have been having rather a bit of fun here this evening.

I thought I heard a row, and I was coming to see what it was; only just when I got to the door, about fifty chaps bounced out and nearly knocked me down .-- What have they been up to, eh, Lucas ?" "Never you mind," answered the unfortunate official, choking with rage; "the bell's gone, so all of you clear out." "Well, you can't blame me this journey," retorted Gull, calmly striking another match and lighting the next gas-jet.

"It seems to me this is a little too much of a good thing.

You'll have to lick a few of them, Lucas, my boy; and if you can't manage it yourself, you'd better get some one else to do it for you--your friend Allingford, for instance." The master on duty in the big schoolroom had to call several times for silence before the subdued hum of muttered conversation entirely ceased.
Every one had heard of the reading-room riot, and was anxious to discuss the matter with his companions.
"Who did it?
who did it ?" was the question asked on all sides.
"I don't know," would be the answer.

"They say it wasn't the fellows who were in the room--some of them put the gas out; but it was a lot of other chaps, who rushed in after, who did all the damage and caused such 'ructions.'" "It seems to me," remarked Diggory to his two chums, "that it was a put-up job, all arranged beforehand." "Then who d'you think planned it ?" asked Mugford.
"I don't know, but I believe Gull had a hand in it." "Oh, I don't think that," answered Jack Vance.