"I am very sorry you should have had so much trouble," said Paul, with a vivid recollection of the exploring stick; "and so you found him?"
"No, sir," said the Doctor passionately, "I did not find him, but he was there; he must have been there! but the shameless connivance of two excessively ill-bred persons, who positively refused to allow me access to their compartment, caused him to slip through my fingers."
Mr. Bultitude observed, rather ungratefully, that, if this was so, it was a most improper thing for them to do.
"It was, indeed, but it is of no consequence fortunately. I was forced to wait for the next train, but that was not a very slow one, and so I was able to come on here before a very late hour and acquaint you with what had taken place."
"Thank you very much," said Paul.
"It's a painful thing to occur in a school," observed the Doctor after a pause.
"Most unfortunate," agreed Paul, coughing.
"So apt to lead persons who are not acquainted with the facts to imagine that the boy was unhappy under my care," continued the Doctor.
"In this case, I assure you, I have no doubts," protested Paul with politeness and (seldom a possible combination) perfect truth.