"He's the best swimmer in the school," snapped Radley, "and will one day be the best bowler."
"Well, bless me, my man, have you any position or influence with your schoolfellows?"
"I don't know, sir."
"Hm!" sneered Fillet, whose temper was gone. "He has his confederates."
"Yes," said Radley, "he has a very loyal following."
I think it pleased the drowsy Head to see two of his masters boxing over the body of one of his boys.
"Well, well," he said, "I'm glad, Ray, to hear you give such a good account of yourself. We are satisfied, I may say, with your prowess in the baths this evening—you did your best, sir, you did your best—and we are satisfied with the attitude you have taken up in regard to this nonsensical business outside—"
"But, sir," I began, deprecatingly.
"God bless me, my man, don't interrupt! I tell you, we are satisfied. We don't sigh for the moon; and we're not talking of your shortcomings. We haven't time, bless me, we haven't time. We're only talking of your virtues, which won't occupy many minutes. We are satisfied that you're not altogether a fool—that you do some work—that you have some moral courage—that you're an athlete—and—what else was the matter, with him, Mr. Radley?—oh, that you have some position with your schoolfellows. We make you a house-prefect, sir, a house-prefect."
Staggered beyond measure, I suppose I showed it in my face, for Salome continued: