"Did he know of our six-a-side against Merishall's lot?"
"Rather! Said he hoped we'd win."
"We! Why, is he backing out, then?"
"Well, we've waited for him half an hour, and there's no sign of him yet—look's like it."
"What is up with him, I wonder?" said Poulett.
"Seemed rather mysterious this morning—rather stand-offish to my idea. Perhaps, though, he's only guzzling buns or swilling coffee somewhere. Let's see."
The quintette thereupon spread themselves out, but every shop was drawn blank.
"Rum!" said Rogers. "Where can the ass be?"
"If we knew, Solomon, would we try to find out?" said Sharpe.
"I say, you fellows—I've got an idea about Grimmy. Didn't Lancaster give him a leg-up for his chemistry the other day? Permission to footle in the lab. on half-holidays, and all the rest of it? Grim was no end cocky over that."