The rustling I thought was rats.
“Why?” said the Doctor sharply.
“Because Burr junior and Mercer are so jealous about any other boy going up there, and they would have knocked me about, as you know, sir, they did once before, for being up there.”
“It isn’t true!” I cried.
“Silence, sir,” said the Doctor. “You shall be heard afterwards. Go on, Dicksee.”
“Yes, sir, please, sir. So I hid under the straw, and then I saw Burr junior come up into the loft, and look round, and out of the window, and everywhere but in the straw.”
“State what you saw simply, sir,” said the Doctor sternly; “and recollect that you do not stand upon a very good pedestal, for you were playing one of the meanest parts a human being can take, that of a spy.”
“Hear! hear!” said the two masters together.
“Please, sir, I was afraid,” pleaded Dicksee.
“Go on,” said the Doctor.