We were allowed to walk in the playing-fields on Sunday after chapel before dinner, and then Mayne and Protheroe minimus and myself discussed the details.
Funnily enough, they were so full of it between themselves that they did not exactly realize where I came in; so I had to remind Protheroe that it was I who had arranged the supply when I heard about his demand; and I had also to remind him he had certainly said that if anybody could put him in the way of a prize, he would give that person a clear pound at the beginning of next term.
I also had to remind Mayne that he had promised me ten shillings on delivery of his two pounds.
In fact, before the day was done I got them both to sign documents; because, as I say, when they once got together over it, they seemed rather to forget me. So I explained to them that my part was simply that of a financier, and that many men made their whole living in that way, arranging supplies for demands and bringing capitalists together in a friendly spirit. But not for nothing.
They quite saw it, but thought I asked too much. However, I was older than they were, and speedily convinced them that I had not.
There was only one difficulty in the way after this, and Protheroe came to me about it, and I helped him over it free of charge. He said:
"When I take home the prize, what shall I say it's for? You know what my school reports are like. There's never a loophole for a prize of any kind."
"You might say good conduct," I suggested; but Protheroe min. scorned the thought.
"That would give away the whole show at once," he said. "Because even my mother wouldn't be deceived. It's no good taking back a prize for good conduct when the report will be sure to read as usual--'No attempt at any improvement,' which is how it always goes."
Everything I suggested, Protheroe scoffed at in the same way, so I could see the prize would have to be for something not mentioned at all in the school report.