What we want to know is, what were you doing after 'prep' ?" "Well, I was about some private business of my own." "What was it ?" "I don't see why I should tell you all my private affairs." "Well, in this instance we mean to know; so out with it.

What were you doing directly after 'prep' last night ?" There was a hush of expectation.

Every one thought an important disclosure was about to be made.
"All right," answered Gull calmly; "if you must know, I'll tell you.
I was in the matron's room, getting her to sew two buttons on my waistcoat." A roar of laughter interrupted the proceedings; the defence had scored heavily.

Oaks was for the moment completely nonplussed, and Thurston seized the opportunity of making a counter-attack.

He strode forward, and mounting the chest addressed the assembly as follows:-- "Gentlemen, however low Ronleigh may have sunk, there is still, I believe, left among us a certain amount of love of fair play, and therefore I ask you to give me a hearing.