Scaife understood, and took his cue.

"Yes; I have lent him money," said he, after a slight pause.

"Twenty pounds?"

"I believe, sir, that is the amount."

"And can you offer me any explanation why Beaumont-Greene, whose
father, to my knowledge, has always given him a very large allowance,
should borrow thirty pounds of you two?"

"I haven't the smallest idea, have you, Lovell?"

"No," said Lovell. "Unless his younger brother, who is at Eton, has
got into trouble. He's very fond of his brothers."

"Um! You speak up for your--friend."

Lovell frowned. "A friend, sir--no."

"Of course," said Warde, reflectively, "if it is true that
Beaumont-Greene borrowed this money to help a brother----"

He paused, staring at Lovell. From the bottom of a big heart he was
praying that Lovell would not lie.

"Beaumont-Greene certainly gave me to understand that the affair was
pressing. Having the money, I hadn't the heart to refuse."

"But you pressed for repayment?" said Warde, sharply.

"That is true, sir. I'm on an allowance; and I shall have many
expenses this holidays."

"You, Scaife, asked for your money?"

"Yes, sir."

"Well, between you, you have driven this unhappy wretch into crime."

"Crime, sir?"

At last their self-possession abandoned them. Crime is a word which
looms large in the imaginations of youth. What had Beaumont-Greene
done?

"What crime, sir?"

Scaife, the more self-possessed, although fully two years the younger,
asked the question.

"Forgery."

"Forgery?" Lovell repeated. He was plainly shocked.

"The idiot!" exclaimed Scaife.

"Yes--forgery. Have you anything to say? It is a time when the truth,
all the truth, might be accepted as an extenuating circumstance. I
speak to you first, Lovell. You're a Sixth Form boy--remember, I have
been one myself--and it is your duty to help me."

"I beg pardon, sir," Lovell replied. "I have never considered it my
duty as a Sixth Form boy to play the usher."

"Nor did I; but you ought to work on parallel lines with us. You
accepted the privileges of the Sixth."

Lovell's flush deepened.

"More," continued Warde, "you know that we, the masters, have implicit
trust in the Sixth Form, a trust but seldom betrayed. For instance, I
should not think of entering your room without tapping on the door;
under ordinary circumstances I should accept your bare word
unhesitatingly. I say emphatically that if you, knowing these things,