Diggory glanced up, and received a look from the two prefects that amply repaid him for the trying ordeal through which he had just passed.

Jack Vance leaned over to whisper something in his ear, when their attention was attracted by an exclamation of surprise from Dr.Denson.
"Aha! what does this mean ?--Look here, Allingford." Every member of the company edged forward, and looking down at what lay on the writing-table, saw in a moment that the mystery was solved.
The communication which had been slipped under the bedroom door was written on a half-sheet of small-sized note-paper; a similar piece of stationery had been used for the cipher note.

The head-master had accidentally brought them together on his blotting-pad and the rough, torn edge of the one fitted exactly into the corresponding side of the other.

They had both unmistakably come from the same source! Even the dread atmosphere of the doctor's study could not restrain some show of excitement on the part of those interested in this disclosure, but it was quickly suppressed.
"Oaks," said the doctor, "go and give my compliments to Mr.Cowland, and ask him to open school for me; and at the same time inform the following boys that I wish to see them at once, here in my study: Fletcher One, Thurston, Gull, Hawley, and Noaks." To the Triple Alliance hours seemed to pass before a shuffling of feet in the passage announced the arrival of the Thurstonians.

One by one they filed into the room, the door was shut, and there was a moment of awful silence.