About a week before the Thirds "the Bull" was discussing the match in the dormitories. Jack was very full of words.
"I say, sir, isn't it awfully lucky for Hazlitt that he is not playing?"
"The Bull" was surprised. Only that evening he had been talking with Hazlitt, and telling him how sorry he was that there was no place for him in the side.
"Why, Jack? I don't know what you mean."
"Oh, well, you see, sir, all the School House fellows had sworn to lay him out!"
"You must not talk like that, Jack. It is not sporting. And it stirs up ill feeling in the school. You can't honestly believe that any gentleman would play a game in that spirit. You have no proof of what you say except mere rumour, I suppose. You mustn't talk like that."
"The Bull" was not at all pleased, and walked away to turn out the light. Whitaker saw he had gone too far and had said more than he meant to. But he couldn't stand the idea that "the Bull" should think he had been repeating merely idle chatter.
"But, sir, I know for certain that in the Christy's match the School House men were offering money to Christy's to lay Hazlitt out."
Buller stopped with his hand on the gas-tap.
"That is a very serious accusation, Jack. Are you telling me that any Fernhurst boys so lack sportsmanlike feeling as to bribe boys in other houses to lay out their rivals, so that it will be easier for them to win."