nd he is certain that the fellow
he was struggling with was a Weston boy."

"Well, you see, Lord Woodruff," said the doctor, "unless the poor fellow
knew the boy, he could hardly be sure upon that point, could he?"

"Pretty nearly, I think, Dr Jolliffe. Your boys wear a distinctive cap
of dark flannel?"

"Yes; but when they get shabby they are thrown aside, and many of the
village youths round about get hold of them and wear them."

"Aye," said Lord Woodruff, "but Bradley is confident that this was a
young gentleman; he wore a round jacket, with a white collar, and stiff
white cuffs with studs in them, for he felt them when he tried to grasp
his wrists. No young rustic would be dressed in that fashion, and,
taken together with the cap, I fear that it must have been one of your
boys."

"It looks suspicious, certainly," said the doctor, somewhat perplexed.

"I am very sorry indeed to give you trouble, and to risk bringing any
discredit on the school," said Lord Woodruff. "But you see one of my
men has been seriously injured, and that in my service, and if we could
find this boy, his evidence would enable us to trace the cowardly
ruffian who struck the blow."

"Then you would want to--to prosecute him, in short."

"In confidence, doctor, I should be glad not to do so if I could help
it, and if he would give his evidence freely it might be avoided. But
it may be necessary to frighten him, if we can find him, that is. And,
doctor, allow me to say that if this were merely a boyish escapade, a
raid upon my pheasants, I should be content to leave the matter in your
hands, considering that a sound flogging would meet the case. But my
man being dangerously hurt alters the whole business. I owe it to him,
and to all others in my employ, not to leave a stone unturned to
discover the perpetrator of the outrage, and I call upon you, Dr
Jolliffe, to assist me."

The doctor bowed. "Can your lordship suggest anything you would like
done towards the elucidation of this mystery?" he said. "In spite of
the jacket and cuffs, I find it difficult to suppose that any Weston boy
is in league with poachers. But you may rely on my doing all in my
power to aid you in any investigation you may think desirable."

"I expected as much, and thank you," replied Lord Woodruff. "It
occurred to me, then, that it might be well, as a preliminary measure,
to collect the boys together in one room and lay the case before them,
promising i