There was dead silence. Mr. Axim actually smiled. Masters looked terribly distressed, while the Head seemed thoroughly miserable.
"You refuse?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Then go to your dormitory. You will be expelled in the morning."
It was a disastrous ending to the ambitions of our hero.
CHAPTER XX
THE OLD FIRM HANGS TOGETHER
There were white faces amongst the members of the Old Firm on the morning following Clive's arrest by Mr. Axim, and the sentence which the Head had passed on him. The school itself was agog with the news.
"Darrell's bunked! Heard it? What's he done?" was passing on every side.