Being a tidy man, and not favouring dust or dirt of any sort, even out of sight, he proceeded to probe the hole in order to clear away the obstruction, when, to his amazement and consternation, he discovered, snugly lying in the hollow, the lost pencil-case! Mr Webster's first thought was, "Artful young rogues! They've brought it back, and hidden it here to escape punishment!" And yet, when he came to think of it, all the dust in that hole could not have settled there during the last half-hour; nor--and he was sure of this--had either of the boys, on their last two visits, been anywhere near that side of his shop.
After all, he had "run his head against a stone wall," and narrowly escaped ruining himself as far as Templeton was concerned.

For he knew the young gentlemen of that school well enough to be sure, after a blunder like this, that the place would soon have become too hot to hold him.
Mr Webster positively gasped at the thought of his narrow escape, and forgot all about Pledge, and the culprit, and the culprit's friends, in his self congratulation.
About mid-day, however, he was suddenly reminded of them all, by the vision of Dick darting into the shop.
"Webster," said that youth, in tones of breathless entreaty, "_do_ let us off this once! Coote really never took the pencil, and if you have him taken up, it will be ruination! I shall get in a row for coming down now, but I couldn't help.

We'll do anything if you don't take Coote up.

I'll get my father to pay you what you like.

Will you, please, Webster ?" The boy delivered this appeal so rapidly and earnestly that Webster had no time to stop him; but when Dick paused, he said:-- "Make yourself comfortable, Mr Richardson, I've found the pencil." Dick literally shouted, as he sprang forward and seized the bookseller's hand:-- "Found it! Oh, what a brick you are!" "Yes; it had fallen into that hole, and I just turned it out.