By me it's now twenty to six, so they must have been late." "They were in before half-past, sir; your watch must be wrong." "Don't keep contradicting me, sir," said the master.
"We are supposed to work by the school clock, sir," interposed the captain.
"I'm not aware that I addressed any remark to you, Allingford," retorted Mr.Grice, rapidly losing all control of his temper.

"You need make no further attempt to teach me the rules of the school; I flatter myself that I am sufficiently well versed in them already." A crowd of idlers, attracted by the angry tones of the master's voice, had begun to collect in the passage, and the captain flushed to the roots of his hair at being thus taken to task in public.
"I merely said, sir, that we work by the school clock." "And I say, hold your tongue, sir .-- Oaks, remember you report those three boys for being late." "I can't do that, sir," answered Oaks stolidly, "for they were in time." Mr.Grice boiled over.

"You are a very impertinent fellow," he cried.
"I shall report you both to the doctor." And so saying, he turned on his heel and walked away.
There was a buzz of astonishment among the bystanders.

The idea of a captain of Ronleigh being reported to the doctor was something novel indeed, and by the time the first bell rang for tea, a report of the collision between Mr.Grice and the prefects had spread all over the school..