"Ah, 'some' party! Well, Mansell, got over your beating yet?"
There was subdued laughter.
"I say, Meredith, have A-K the slightest chance of beating us on Thursday?" Lovelace was captain of L-Z Junior, and had laid rather heavily on a victory.
"Of course not, my good man, I'm going to umpire."
This time the laughter was not subdued.
In his retreat at the far end of the studies Clarke heard it. Down the passage he thundered, knocked at the door, and came in.
"What's the meaning of this? You know quite well that not more than three are allowed in here at one time. Come to my study, the lot of you."
All this time Meredith was being jammed behind the door.
"When you have quite finished, Clarke," he said.
"I am sorry, Meredith. Are you responsible for this?"