e
Foot-Race; and said, when we asked him if he'd taken the odds, he'd
lay any odds we liked against you in the other Race at the
University--meaning, old boy, your Degree. Nasty, that about the
Degree--in the opinion of Number One. Bad taste in Sir Patrick to rake
up what we never mention among ourselves--in the opinion of Number Two.
Un-English to sneer at a man in that way behind his back--in the opinion
of Number Three. Bring him to book, Delamayn. Your name's in the papers;
he can't ride roughshod over You."

The two choral gentlemen agreed (in the minor key) with the general
opinion. "Sir Patrick's views are certainly extreme, Smith?" "I think,
Jones, it's desirable to hear Mr. Delamayn on the other side."

Geoffrey looked from one to the other of his admirers with an expression
on his face which was quite new to them, and with something in his
manner which puzzled them all.

"You can't argue with Sir Patrick yourselves," he said, "and you want me
to do it?"

One, Two, Three, and the Chorus all answered, "Yes."

"I won't do it."

One, Two, Three, and the Chorus all asked, "Why?"

"Because," answered Geoffrey, "you're all wrong. And Sir Patrick's
right."

Not astonishment only, but downright stupefaction, struck the deputation
from the garden speechless.

Without saying a word more to any of the persons standing near him,
Geoffrey walked straight up to Sir Patrick's arm-chair, and personally
addressed him. The satellites followed, and listened (as well they
might) in wonder.

"You will lay any odds, Sir," said Geoffrey "against me taking my
Degree? You're quite right. I sha'n't take my Degree. You doubt whether
I, or any of those fellows behind me, could read, write, and cipher
correctly if you tried us. You're right again--we couldn't. You say you
don't know why men like Me, and men like Them, may not begin with rowing
and running and the like of that, and end in committing all the crimes
in the calendar: murder included. Well! you may be right again there.
Who's to know what may happen to him? or what he may not end in doing
before he dies? It may be Another, or it may be Me. How do I know?
and how do you?" He suddenly turned on the deputation, standing
thunder-struck behind him. "If you want to know what I think, there it
is for you, in plain words."

There was something, not only in the shamelessness of the declaration
itself, but in the fierce pleasure that the speaker seemed to feel in
making i