The keen eye of his master detected him the instant he made his appearance, but he took no notice of him until he had finished his business; then, while his pupils were putting up their books he turned to Louis, and pointing to a little table by his side, said, "_There_ is a volume, Louis Mortimer, with which I suspect you have some acquaintance." Louis advanced to the table, and beheld the Key to Kenrick's Greek Exercises.
"You know it ?" said the doctor.
"Yes, sir, but I did not use it," said Louis.
"You will not deny that it was found among your books in the school-room," said the doctor.
"I know, sir, Mr.Witworth found it, but I assure you I did not put it there," replied Louis, very gently.
"Have you never used it at all ?" asked Dr.Wilkinson.
"Never, sir," replied Louis, firmly.
At this moment, he met the eye of Hamilton, who was standing near Dr.Wilkinson, and who looked very scornfully and incredulously at him as he paused to hear the result of the inquiry.

Louis remembered that Hamilton had seen the key Churchill had left, and he hastily exclaimed, "I assure you, Mr.Hamilton, I did not." "What is this, Hamilton ?" said Dr.Wilkinson, turning round.
"Do you know any thing of this matter ?" "I would much rather not answer," said Hamilton, abruptly, "if you will excuse me, sir." "I must, however, beg that you will, if you please," replied the doctor.
"I really know nothing positively, I can say nothing certainly.

You would not wish, sir, that any imagination of mine should prejudice you to Louis Mortimer's disadvantage; I am not able to say any thing," and Hamilton turned away in some confusion, vexed that he should have been appealed to.
Dr.Wilkinson looked half perplexed--he paused a moment and fixed his eyes on the table.

Louis ventured to say, "Mr.Hamilton saw a book once before with my lesson books, but I never used it." "What do you mean by _saw a book_ ?" asked the doctor.

"What book did Mr.Hamilton see?
How came it there, and why was it there ?" "It was 'Kenrick's Greek Exercises,' sir." "You mean the 'Key,' I suppose ?" Louis answered in the affirmative.
"Whose was it ?" asked the doctor, with a countenance more ominous in its expression.
"It was the one you took from Harrison, sir," replied Louis.
"Humph! I thought I took it away.