"Silence!" cried the Head, in ill-disguised contempt. "No one can force another to do evil. You two boys have conspired together to injure the good name of a companion, whose only offence has been that he has tried to act a noble manly part amidst very difficult and adverse circumstances. You would have branded him a thief; and to do it you did not hesitate to become thieves yourselves. You have told the vilest lies—and you, Elgert, have done worse. It will be for other authorities to deal with this; but I will mention it here. You have allowed one of these boys—Charlton I mean—to suffer much torture because of his father's unhappy position. You knew that his father was innocent, and you held the proof of that, and——"
Then the Head stopped, for Charlton had turned very white. He had not known of the business of the pocket-book.
"Oh, sir," he said, "my father innocent! And he knew it, and—and——"
He put his hand to his head, and Kesterway sprang forward and caught him, or he would have fallen, for he fainted away; and the Head, with tears in his eyes, murmured—
"Poor boy! Poor boy! Take him to the matron."
They carried him out, and not one of those who had jeered at him but now felt sorry and ashamed, and full of anger against the two culprits, to whom the Head now turned again.
"It is possible that others outside our school may have something to say to you about this business," he said. "That has nothing to do with me. I have only to deal with your offence as it touches the honour of the school and for that offence only the severest punishment can be inflicted——"
Whereat Dobson uttered a howl, and Elgert clenched his hands and looked desperate. The severest punishment! That was why the birch was there.
"You will both be publicly flogged," continued the Head, "and then you will be expelled!"
And at this a shout of approval went up. Marlthorpe was going to be avenged for the slight put upon its honour.