To cover Jack's move across the aisle between the desks, Patch stood up, and showed his pen to Mr. Salmon, as ocular evidence of the truth of his explanation.
"I've got it now, sir," he observed brightly. "It had rolled right under my seat."
"Yes, yes," said Mr. Salmon testily. "Sit down."
But Septimus was sparring for time until Jack was ready to take up Billy's translation. So he added, in his most foolish manner, "It's curious, sir, where these things get to, isn't it! Once I lost a pencil, and found it in the bottom of my trousers. Philosophers call it—"
"Sit down, sir!"
"—call it the perversity of inanimate—"
"Will you sit down?"
"—objects, like a collar-stud, or—"
"Patch!"
"Very well, sir," said Patch, sitting down with the aggrieved air of one who has been casting his pearls before swine. He glanced sharply towards Billy's chair, and sighed with relief.