It was highly unlikely that anyone would seriously consider a theory so intrinsically improbable.

Still, if the faintest suspicion of the part he had played reached the ears of the college authorities, he felt that his career as a divinity student was likely to be an extremely brief one.

His chief fear was that a prolonged absence from college would give rise to inquiry, and that his bandages would excite suspicion when he reappeared.

Fortunately, the house surgeon decided that he was sufficiently recovered to be allowed to leave the hospital early in the afternoon.

The boot which had put an end to his share in the riot had raised its bruise under his hair, so he was able to remove the bandages from his head as soon as he got into the street.