He disliked Faulkner, and objected to his cutting into the conversation.
"One comfort," said I, endeavouring to change the topic: "we may get off that brutal Latin exercise if Plummer takes on hard about this affair." "Poor old Hector!" said Dicky.

"If that's so, we shall owe him one good turn at least--eh, old Compound Proportion ?" This pointed allusion to my misfortunes disinclined me to hold further conversation with Richard Brown, and the meal ended in general silence.
As we trooped back to the schoolroom I overheard Faulkner say to another of the seniors-- "I say, did you see the way Tempest flared up when I said that about the pistol just now?
Rather awkward for him, I fancy, if he's got one." "What's the odds if he didn't shoot the dog ?" was the philosophical reply.
For all that, I had observed the Dux's confusion, and the sight of it made me very uncomfortable on his account.

Faulkner was right.

It would be precious awkward for any one who might be discovered to possess a pistol.

The fact that firearms were expressly forbidden at Dangerfield College was itself, I am sorry to say, a strong presumption in favour of Tempest having one.