Arnold had started up, his face white as parchment, while he shook in every limb.
“Merriwell!” they both gasped.
Frank closed the door behind him.
“Sit down!” he said sternly, pointing to the chairs by the table.
Arnold dropped back with another gasp. Snodgrass seemed to hesitate, and then he stiffened up, as if in refusal.
Frank fixed his steady eyes on those of Ben Snodgrass. The sophomore made a mistake in glaring straight back. If he had desired to refuse to obey Merriwell he should not have looked Merriwell in the eye. It was not often any man looked Frank squarely in the eye and declined to obey any command he gave.
“Sit down,” said Merry, more gently than before.
And Snodgrass suddenly wilted, sliding to the chair, upon which he sank.
But he had taken his eyes from those of Merriwell, and now he could speak. He said:
“So you played the eavesdropper—the great and honorable Frank Merriwell played the eavesdropper!”