at the
place for to-day's lesson. Everything betokened an abrupt and hasty
departure.

Among the papers on his table was a fragment of some accounts recording
the outlay of little more than a few pence a week since the beginning of
the term.

When inquiry came to be made, it was found that he was last seen after
afternoon class yesterday, when he unexpectedly went to the School shop
and purchased from the attendant there (who had been put in charge of
that establishment during the indisposition of the managing directors)
half a dozen Abernethy biscuits.

The matron at Wakefield's remembered that only a day or two ago a parcel
had arrived for Rollitt--another unusual circumstance--containing a ham.
Of this possession no sign was now to be found in his study.

The inference from all these circumstances of course was, that however
abruptly he had departed, he had not gone home, but somewhere where food
would not be easy to procure in the ordinary way.

Messengers were sent to Penchurch to acquaint the police and inquire at
various places on the way for news of the missing boy. But no one had
seen him "out of touch" for several days--since his last fishing
expedition.

His home address was of course on the School books, and thither a
telegram was sent. But as the place was beyond the region of the wire,
no reply came for a day, when in answer to the doctor's inquiry if the
wanderer had returned home, there came an abrupt "No."

Meanwhile the doctor had had another conference with the seniors of both
houses, and inquired with every sign of dissatisfaction into the merits
of the suspicions which were the apparent cause of Rollitt's
disappearance.

To his demand why the matter was not reported to him, Yorke replied that
as far as he and Fisher major were concerned they did not suspect
Rollitt, and therefore had had nothing to report. The Modern seniors,
on the other hand, put in the plea that they had looked to the Classics
to take the matter up, and when they declined to do so, had reported the
matter to Mr Forder.

Then the doctor went into the particulars of Dangle's feud with the
missing boy, much to the embarrassment of the former.

"He insulted you by turning you out of Mr Wakefield's house, you say.
Why were you there?"

"I went to speak to some juniors."

"About what?"

"Clapperton wanted them--"

"No, I didn't. You went--" interrupted Clapperton.

"Silence, Clapperton. What were they wanted