s with
Dangle's assistance. All we've got to do is--"

Here Fullerton interrupted--

"--is to say all the evil we can about a fellow who is down and can't
defend himself."

"What's the matter with Fullerton?" said Clapperton, with a sneer;
"surely he's not become one of Rollitt's champions?"

"If it matters specially to you what I think," said Fullerton, "I don't
believe a word of your precious story. First of all, Fisher major's
such a fool at accounts that it's not at all certain the money is lost;
secondly, Dangle is the accuser; thirdly, Rollitt is the accused;
fourthly, because if a similar charge were made against me, I should
certainly disappear."

"Ha, ha!" snarled Brinkman, "they've got hold of poor Fullerton, have
they? I wish them joy of him."

"Thanks very much," said Fullerton; "I don't intend to desert the dear
Moderns. You will have a splendid chance of taking it out of me for
daring to believe somebody innocent that you think guilty. I shall be
happy to see any three of you, whenever you like, I can hit out as well
as young Corder, so I hope Brinkman won't come. But Dangle now, or even
Clapperton, I shall be charmed to see. It's really their duty as
prefects to suppress any one who dares have an opinion of his own. I
simply long to be suppressed!"

This astounding revolt for the time being diverted attention from the
topic of the hour. The laughter with which it was greeted by the
Classics present did not tend to add to the comfort of Clapperton,
Brinkman, and Dangle, who very shortly discovered that it was time to go
to their own house.

"Wait for me," said Fullerton; "I'm coming too."

And, to their disgust, the rebel strolled along, with his hands in his
pockets, in their company, whistling pleasantly to himself and
absolutely ignoring their unfriendly attitude.

Meanwhile the question, "Where is Rollitt?" continued to exercise
Fellsgarth, from the head-master down to the junior fag. Bit by bit all
that could be found out about his movements came to light. His study
was visited by the masters. It disclosed the usual state of grime and
confusion. His fishing-rod and tackle were there. There had been no
attempt to pack his few belongings, which lay scattered about in dismal
disorder. The photograph of the pleasant, homely-looking woman on the
mantelpiece, with the inscription below, "Alfred, from Mother," stood in
its usual place. His Aristophanes lay open in the window-sill