He was in the wrong, and he knew it.

And yet the mariner in which the rebuke had been administered was such as no man of spirit could cheerfully endure.

The one idea in his mind was, not how to punish the house for its disorder, but how to settle scores with Bickers for restoring order; not how to admonish the incompetent prefects, but how to justify them against their accuser.
He sent for the four prefects to his room before bed hour.

Ainger and Barnworth, it was plain to see, had been informed of all that had happened, and were in a more warlike mood even than their two companions.
"I hear," said Railsford, "that there was a disturbance in the house while I was away for a short time this evening.

Ainger and Barnworth of course were out too, but I should like to hear from you, Stafford and Felgate, what it was all about." Stafford allowed Felgate to give his version; which was, like most of Felgate's versions, decidedly apocryphal.
"There was rather a row, sir," said he, "among some of the juniors.
Some of them were wrestling, I fancy.