,
because he hated a "tellpyet," and yet knew that discipline must be
maintained.

The Count explained with many flourishes that he was desolated to come
for the first time to this so distinguished a Gymnasium upon an errand
so distasteful, but that a lady had laid her commands on him ("Dis the
body mean Lucky Jamieson?" whispered Speug to a neighbour), and he had
ever been a slave of the sex (Bulldog at this point regarded him with a
disdain beyond words.) The Rector of this place of learning had also
done him, an obscure person, the honour of an invitation to come and
assist at this function of justice; and although, as the Count
explained, he was no longer a soldier, obedience was still the breath of
his nostrils. Behold him, therefore, the servant of justice, ready to be
questioned or to lay down his life for law; and the Count bowed again to
Bulldog, placing his hand upon his heart, and then leant in a becoming
attitude against the desk, tapping his shining boots with his cane, and
feeling that he had acquitted himself with credit.

"We're sorry to bring ye out on such a day, sir," and Bulldog's glance
conveyed that such a figure as the Count's ought not to be exposed in
snowtime; "but we'll not keep ye long, and Ill juist state the
circumstances with convenient brevity. The boys of the Seminary are
allowed to exercise themselves in the snowtime within limits. If they
fight wi' neighbouring schools, it's a maitter of regret; but if they
break windows, they're liable to the maist extreme penalty. Now, I'm
informed that some of the young scoundrels--and I believe the very
laddies are in this class-room at this meenut" (Speug made no effort to
catch Bulldog's eye, and Howieson's attention was entirely occupied with
mathematical figures)--"have committed a breach of the peace at Mistress
Jamieson's house. What I ask you, sir, to do"--and Bulldog regarded the
Count with increasing disfavour, as he thought of such a popinjay giving
evidence against his laddies--"is, to look round this class-room and
point out, so far as ye may be able, any boy or boys who drove a
snowball or snowballs through the windows of your residence."

During this judicial utterance the eyes of the Count wandered over the
school with the most provoking intelligence, and conveyed even to the
dullest, with a vivacity of countenance of which Muirtown was not
capable, that Bulldog was a tiresome old gentleman, that the boys were a
set of sad dogs, c