ect that
important consideration now.

Naturally, ham and Abernethys were the victuals selected. Had not
Rollitt made these classical as the staff of life during voluntary exile
from school?

They were compelled to put up with a very small sample of the former.
Lickford had been bequeathed a bone by his senior yesterday, to which
adhered a few fragments of a once small ham. Possibly it might, with
careful carving, furnish nine small slices.

It was better than nothing. They would make up for its deficiency by a
double lot of Abernethys.

So they trooped off to the shop.

According to their own rules, this establishment was only open between
11 and 12 in the morning, and not at all on holidays.

But another rule said that the committee might in certain cases suspend
or alter the rules.

Whereupon Percy moved, and Ashby seconded, the following resolution:
"That this shop be, and is, hereby opened for the space of five
minutes." The motion was carried unanimously.

D'Arcy and Cottle, whose turn it was to be on duty, solemnly took down
the shutters, and ranged themselves behind the counter.

"What can I do for you, my little dears?" said the former,
encouragingly. "Money down. No tick. Try some of our Rollitt's
particular--three-halfpence each."

"No, they're not, you cheat!--they're a penny. We'd better have two
each," said Wally.

"Hullo! I say," exclaimed D'Arcy. "Look here, you fellows."

He pointed to the heap of Abernethy biscuits, on the top of which lay a
sixpence.

"That's what you call looking after the money," said Wally. "Left that
there all night."

"No--not a bit of it. But I tell you what," said D'Arcy, who had
rapidly been counting the pile of biscuits; "there were twenty-four
biscuits there when we left last night. I'm certain of it; weren't
there, young Cottle?"

"Yes. I remember that," testified Cottle.

"Very well; then some one's been here in the night, for there are only
eighteen biscuits now, and this sixpence."

"Perhaps Yorke got some before he started?"

"How could he? No one can get in here without the latch-key; and only
the two chaps who are on duty keep that."

"Perhaps it's the owls in the belfry?"

"They don't generally pay ready money for what they take."

"I say!" exclaimed Wally; "I expect it's Rollitt. He'd have finished
his others by this time, and he sneaked back in the night for some more.
Good old Rollitt!"

Wally did not stay to explain