But Mr. Leith did not laugh. His black eyes snapped and his face was pale with anger.
“Who did that?” he asked, as he took out his handkerchief and wiped the smear from the bosom of his shirt.
Naturally there was no answer. The laughter died out, and everything became as silent as the grave.
“Such conduct is subversive of all discipline,” went on Mr. Leith in his stilted way and trying to get control of his voice. “If the boy who did that will confess, I will take that into account in the punishment I shall lay upon him. But no matter how long it takes, I am determined to find the culprit.”
Still no answer.
“Well,” said Mr. Leith after waiting a moment, “I see that I shall have to question each one of you separately.”
He called them up one by one, beginning at the front of the room, and each one denied knowing anything about it, Bobby among the rest. Then he came last to Hicksley.
“I didn’t do it,” said Hicksley; “but—”
Then he stopped, as though he had gone further than he intended.
“But what?” queried the teacher sharply.