"Seize the Gordonites' pigeons! Why, when do you mean?"
"To-night."
Eric gave a long whistle. "But wouldn't it be st--t--?"
"Stealing?" said Wildney, with a loud laugh. "Pooh! 'convey the wise call it.'"
But Eric still looked serious. "Why, my dear old boy," continued Wildney, "the Gordonites'll be the first to laugh at the trick when we tell them of it next morning, as of course we will do. There, now, don't look grumpy. I shall cut away and arrange it with. Graham, and tell you the whole dodge ready prepared to-night at bed-time."
After lights were put out, Wildney came up to the study according to promise, and threw out hints about the proposed plan. He didn't tell it plainly, because Duncan was there, but Duncan caught enough to guess what was intended, and said, when Wildney had gone--
"Take my advice, and have nothing to do with this, Eric."
Eric had grown very touchy lately about advice, particularly from any fellow of his own standing; and after the checks he had recently received, a coolness had sprung up between him and nearly all the study-boys, which made him more than ever inclined to assert his independence, and defy and thwart them in every way.
"Keep your advice to yourself, Duncan, till it's asked for," he answered, roughly. "You've done nothing but advise lately, and I'm rather sick of it."
"Comme vous voulez," replied Duncan, with a shrug. "Gang your own gait; I'll have nothing more to do with trying to stop you, since you will ruin yourself."