in first," replied his more prudent auditor.

Next the roll was called, and when all had answered to their names Dr
Jolliffe announced that their visitor had something serious to say to
them; and then Lord Woodruff got up.

"No doubt some of your fathers are preservers of game for sporting
purposes," he said, "and you all know what it means. I preserve game in
this neighbourhood; and last night one of my keepers was going home
through a wood where there are a good many pheasants, for it has not
been disturbed this year, when he met two persons. They may not have
been poachers, but poaching was certainly going on last night, for the
guns were heard, and the man naturally concluded that they were
trespassing in pursuit of game, for why else should they be there at
that hour of the night. And so, as was clearly his duty, he endeavoured
to secure one of them. But just as he had succeeded in doing so, he was
struck down from behind with some weapon which has inflicted serious
injuries upon him. He has recovered his senses, and laid an information
that the person he seized was a Weston boy."

There was a murmur and a movement throughout the assembly at this
sensational announcement. Saurin, who felt that he was very pale,
muttered, "Absurd!" and strove to assume a look of incredulous
amusement.

"Now, boys, listen to me. I take a great interest in Weston College,
and should be sorry to see any disgrace brought upon it. And indeed it
would be very painful to me that any one of you should have his future
prospects blighted on first entering into life, for what I am willing to
look upon as a thoughtless freak. But when the matter is once put into
the hands of the police I shall have no further power to shield anyone,
and if they trace the boy who was in that wood last night, which, mind
you, they will probably do, safe as he may think himself, he will have
to stand his trial in a court of justice. But now, I will give him a
fair chance. If he will stand forward and confess that he was present
on the occasion I allude to, and will say who the ruffian was that
struck the blow, for of complicity in such an act I do not for a moment
suspect him, I promise that he shall not be himself proceeded against in
any way."

There was a pause of a full minute, during which there was dead silence;
no one moved.

"What!" continued Lord Woodruff; "were you all in your beds at eleven
o'clock last night? Was there no one out of