ring
himself to believe Rollitt a thief, yet he could not deny that
suspicions existed. Still less could he evade his duty as captain to
see things right. The latter duty he might have put off on Mr
Wakefield or the doctor. But the mere reporting to them of the
circumstances would fix the suspicions on Rollitt more pointedly than
they were already, and certainly more pointedly than Yorke wished them
to be.

"Dear Rollitt," he wrote, "I hope you will not resent my writing to tell
you of a rumour which is afloat very injurious to you, and one which I
feel quite sure you can dispose of at once. I would not write about it,
only I am very anxious for the sake of everybody you should deny it, and
so shut up others who would be glad enough if it were true. A sum of
money, about L4 10 shillings, belonging to the Club funds has been lost
from Fisher major's room. The rumour is that you have taken it, and
those who accuse you make much of the coincidence that about the time
when the money was said to be lost, you spent a similar sum in the
purchase of a new boat for Widow Wisdom. If I didn't feel quite sure
you would be able to deny the charge and explain anything about it that
seems suspicious, I should not have cared to write this.

"Yours truly,--

"C. Yorke."

Dangle's letter was less ingenuous.

"The secretary of the Fellsgarth clubs has been requested to ask Rollitt
the following questions in reference to a sum of about L4 10 shillings
missing from the funds in the treasurer's hands.

"1. Is it true that Rollitt was seen at the door of Fisher major's room
on Saturday afternoon, September 21, at a time when everybody else was
absent from the house?

"2. Is it true that immediately afterwards Rollitt paid five pounds for
a new boat for Widow Wisdom?

"3. Where did that money come from?

"4. Does Rollitt know that he is suspected by every boy in Fellsgarth
of having stolen it; and that now that the clubs are dissolved the
treasurer will be called upon to refund the money?

"5. What is Rollitt going to do? Does he deny it? If not, will he
take the consequences?

"Signed for the Club Committee,--

"T. Dangle, Sec."

Fisher minor, the only boy to whom a missive to the School hermit might
safely be entrusted, was on his way to Rollitt's study with the
captain's note in his hand, when he was met on the stairs by Cash.

"What cheer, kid?" said the latter. "Where are you off to?"

"Taking a lette