The Dean passed his hand over his mouth.
"That you will have to do, of course, you and the others between you," he said. "But I may as well tell you, Mr. Binney, that we don't recognise such larks here. If you want to behave like a troublesome boy, you had better go somewhere else. You are gated at eight for a fortnight, and don't let me hear of any such piece of folly again, or you won't get off so easily."
Mr. Binney took himself off feeling rather ashamed, but still a little pleased with himself. "Gated at eight for a fortnight," he said, as he joined his son in the ante-room, where Blathgowrie had also made his appearance.
"Serve you right, you little ass," said Blathgowrie as Lucius entered the presence chamber. "Now run along and play."
"You were not with your father, I think, when the door in the New Court was broken in?" said the Dean.
"No, I wasn't," said Lucius shortly, his face a deep red.
The Dean threw a quick glance at him.
"Is your father—?" he began, and then stopped.
"Off his head?" said Lucius. "I don't know. I never thought he was until he came up here. I know I shall be, pretty soon, if this goes on."
"I didn't mean that," said the Dean, "I was going to ask if he intended to stop here until he takes a degree."