"Here you are," said Gus, thrusting his hand into his pocket and bringing up his coins. "Three three for that rotten bet, and the other fifteen bob I owed you. It's all there."
Cotton opened his eyes.
"You said the governor was rusty, Gus?"
"So he was, beastly; but I can pay you all the same."
"Well," said Cotton, after a little awkward pause, "I don't want to clean you out quite, so pay half now and the rest next term. Would that suit you better, Gus?"
"Thanks, I don't mind," said Gus, airily. "Here's half, then."
Cotton left his friend's room considerably puzzled, but when he came next night with his books for his old jackal's attentions as before, he was more than puzzled, for Gus said—
"Can give you half an hour, Jim."
"We won't be able to screw up enough for Merishall in that time, old man."
"Then you'll have to do the rest yourself, Jim. I'm not going to piffle about any more."