urely, now, he could hold back no longer. His duty, his interest, the
honour of the school, all demanded his secret of him; whereas if he held
it back things would be worse than ever before. And yet he hesitated.

That last wild half-finished exclamation of Wyndham's lingered in his
mind and perplexed him. Suppose there should be some mistake? With
that knife in his pocket, and the poor boy's whole conduct and demeanour
to corroborate its story, he could scarcely hope it. But _suppose_
there was a doubt, or even the shadow of a doubt, what right had he to
accuse him, or even to breathe his name?

"I hope it will be cleared up before long," said he. "Why, you said you
knew who it was!" said Bloomfield. "I said I suspected somebody."

"Who is it?" asked Bloomfield.

"I can't tell you," replied Riddell. "I'm not sure; I may be wrong."

"But surely you're not going to keep a thing like this to yourself!"
exclaimed Bloomfield, warmly; "it concerns everybody in the school.
I've a right, at any rate, as stroke of the Parrett's boat, to know who
it is."

"Of course, you have; and if I was quite sure I was right I would tell
you."

"But you can tell me whom you suspect," said Bloomfield, who had not
anticipated this difficulty. "No, I cannot," replied the captain. "In
confidence, at any rate," said Bloomfield. "No, not till I am sure. I
really cannot."

Bloomfield's manner changed. This rebuff was not what he had expected.
He had come here partly out of curiosity partly from a desire to be
friendly, and partly owing to the eagerness of his companions to have an
explanation. He had never doubted but that he would succeed; nay, even
that Riddell would be glad to meet him more than half-way. But now it
seemed this was not to be, and Bloomfield lost his temper.

"You mean to say," said he, angrily, "you're going to keep it to
yourself?"

"Yes, till I am sure."

"Till you are sure! What are you going to do to make it sure, I'd like
to know?"

"Everything I can."

"You know, I suppose, what everybody says about you and the whole
concern?" said Bloomfield.

"I can't help what they say," said the captain. "They say that if you
chose you could tell straight out like an honest man who it is."

Riddell looked quickly up at the speaker, and Bloomfield felt half
ashamed of the taunt directly it escaped his lips.

"I say that's what the fellows think," said he, "and it's in your own
interest to clear your