ers
would interfere, explanations would be in order, and public opinion
would accomplish the rest.

"You infernal young jackanapes!"

"You pretty pet!"

"Get out of my room! Hook it!"

"I want to," said John, coolly enough, although his heart was throbbing.
"It's horribly fuggy in here, and I've Jambi[26] to do; but I'm not
going till you give me your word that you'll leave young Kinloch alone."

"If you don't walk out I'll chuck you out."

"You must catch me first," said John.

And then a very pretty chase took place. Beaumont-Greene, fat, scant of
breath, full of macaroons, began to pursue John round and round the
table. John skilfully interposed chairs, sofa-cushions, anything he
could lay hands on. Passing the washstand, he secured an enormous
sponge, which an instant later flew souse into the face of the grampus.
An abridged edition of Liddell and Scott's Greek Lexicon followed. This
nearly brought the big fellow to grass. In his rage he, too, began to
hurl what objects happened to be within reach, but he was a shocking bad
shot; he missed, or John dodged every time. John did not miss. Finally,
as John had foreseen, a couple of Sixth Form fellows rushed in.

"What's the meaning of this infernal row?" asked one.

"Ask him," said John.

Authority stared at Beaumont-Greene, and then at his wrecked room.

"I told him to hook it, and he wouldn't," spluttered the gasping Greene.

"Why?"

Half a dozen other fellows had come into the room. Amongst them the
Duffer and the Caterpillar.

"I wanted to hook it," John explained, "because it's so beastly fuggy;
but Beaumont-Greene wouldn't promise me to do something he ought to do."

"This is mysterious."

"The swaggering young blackguard cheeked me," growled Greene.

"I was very polite--at first," pleaded John.

"Hook it now, anyway," said Authority.

"Not till he promises. If you turn me out, I'll come back after you're
gone."

"What is it you want him to promise?"

John had achieved his object.

"I want him to leave young Kinloch _alone_."

The two Sixth Form boys glanced at each other; at John; at the gross,
spotted face of Beaumont-Greene. Then the senior said coldly--

"I suppose you have no objection, Beaumont-Greene, to promising Verney
or any one else that you will leave young Kinloch alone?"

"I've never laid a finger on the kid," growled the big fellow; but he
looked pale and frightened.

"Then you promise--eh?"

"Yes."

"On your w