en't sitting in the taproom, smoking, and drinking beer,
and having a regular high old time. They'd lagged behind on purpose.
Of course Allingford kicked them all out, and he and 'Thirsty' had a
frightful row. They say the big chaps want to hush the matter up as far
as they can, and not report it to old Denson, for fear he'd make it an
excuse to put a stop to paper-chasing. Ally slanged Thurston right
and left, and told him that if he chose to drink beer in a low 'pub'
with the biggest blackguards in the school, he needn't expect that the
fellows in the Sixth would have anything to do with him, and that he
ought to send in his resignation as a prefect."

On entering the school buildings, our three friends were convinced of
the truth of their comrade's story, and on their way to the schoolroom
the question was repeated at least half a dozen times--"Have you heard
about old 'Thirsty' being cobbed in the Black Swan?" Diggory thought of
the conversation he had overheard in Acton's study, and mentioned it to
Carton.

"Yes," answered the latter. "Big Fletcher's a beast. I know Thurston's
very chummy with him, but I don't see that's got much to do with it.
My brother, who left last term, said that 'Thirsty' used to be rather a
jolly chap, only he's got a fearful temper when he's crossed. Most of
the chaps like him as a prefect, because as long as you don't interfere
with him he doesn't seem to care much what any one does. The real thing
is he's going to the dogs, and, as Allingford says, he ought to resign."

Away in one of the Sixth Form studies the subject of their conversation
was sitting with his hands in his pockets, frowning at the fire. He was
roused from his reverie by some one putting his head round the corner of
the door and exclaiming,--

"Hullo, 'Thirsty!'"

"Hullo, Fletcher! where on earth have you been all the evening?"

The new-comer was tall and lanky; he had a sharp, foxy-looking face,
with thin, straight lips, and two deep lines which looked almost like
scars between the eyebrows. He shut the door, and dragging forward a
chair, sat down with his feet on the fender, and commenced warming his
hands at the fire.

"Oh, I've been nowhere in particular," he answered, laughing. "But I
say, young man, you seem to have raised a pretty good hornets' nest
about your ears along this corridor."

"Yes, I know; they've had the cheek to send me that!"

He leaned back as he spoke, and taking a piece of pa