one it unto one of the least of these My
brethren, ye have done it unto Me."

CHAPTER X

DECAPITATION

"Ferdinand Mendez Pinto was but a type of thee, thou liar of the first
magnitude!"

Lovell betrayed his astonishment by a slight start; however, he faced
Warde with a smile. Warde, clean-shaven, alert, with youthful figure,
looked but little older than his pupil. For a moment the two stared
steadily at each other; then, very politely, Lovell said--

"No, sir, he does not."

Warde continued curtly, "Then he has paid you what he did owe you?"

Lovell nodded, shrugging his shoulders. Plainly, Warde had discovered
the fact of the debt. Probably that fool Beaumont-Greene had applied
to his father, and the father had written to Warde. It was unthinkable
that Warde knew more than this. Having reached this conclusion, Lovell
turned over in his mind two or three specious lies that might meet the
exigency.

"Yes," he replied, with apparent frankness, "Beaumont-Greene did owe me
money, and he has paid me."

After a slight pause, Warde said quietly, "It is my duty, as your
tutor, to ask you how Beaumont-Greene became indebted to you?"

"I lent him the money," said Lovell.

"Ah! Please call 'Boy.'"

Lovell went into the passage. Had he an intuition that he was about to
call "Boy" for the last time, or did the pent-up excitement find an
outlet in sound? He had never called "Boy" so loudly or clearly. The
night-fag scurried up again.

"Tell him to send Scaife here," said Warde.

Lovell's florid face paled. Scaife would introduce complications. And
yet, if it had come to Warde's ears that Beaumont-Greene was in debt to
two of his school-fellows, and if he had found out the name of one, it
was not surprising that he knew the name of the other also. As he gave
the fag the message, he regretted that Scaife and he could not have a
minute's private conversation together.

"You lent Beaumont-Greene ten pounds, Lovell?"

"Yes, sir."

Scaife came in, cool, handsomer than usual because of the sparkle in
his eyes.

"Shut the door, Scaife. Look at me, please. Beaumont-Greene owed you
money?"

Scaife glanced at Lovell, whose left eyelid quivered.

"Kindly stand behind Scaife, Lovell. Thank you. Answer my question,
Scaife."

"Yes, sir; he owed me money."

"Have you lent him money too?" said Lovell.

It was admirably done--the hint cleverly conveyed, the mild amazement.
Warde smiled grimly.