The old clergyman put on the big hat again when Mark had gone, and stood up peering over the desk at his prisoner.
'Well, if you don't want to be locked up here all night, you'd better be off,' he remarked.
'To the Detention Room, sir?' faltered the boy.
'You know the way, I believe? If not, I can show you,' said the old gentleman politely.
'But really and truly,' pleaded Langton, 'I didn't do anything this time. I was shoved in.'
'Who shoved you in? Come, you know well enough; you're going to lie, I can see. Who was he?'
It is not improbable that Langton was going to lie that time—his code allowed it—but he felt checked somehow. 'Well, I only know the fellow by name,' he said at last.
'Well, and what's his name? Out with it; I'll give him a detention card instead.'
'I can't tell you that,' said the boy in a lower voice.
'And why not, ye impident fellow? You've just said you knew it. Why not?'