"Don't keep me," said Bert nervously.
"What were you doing in this room?" asked Dick, becoming suspicious.
"I forgot that Holmes was away and came to see him."
"When you found the room dark did you still think Greg was here?"
"Don't keep me now. You don't want to see me skinned, do you?"
"What were you doing by the fireplace?"
"Why—why—"
"Were you aware that in days past plebes who occupied this room had pried up two of the bricks from the base of the fireplace and had a hiding cubby there?"
"Of course not! What do you take me for?" Anstey had come to the doorway, but stayed there, blocking the passage. Prescott stepped to the fireplace and stooped as though to look under the loose bricks. Dodge, in a panic, got there before him and pulled out some papers.
"I was trying to play a prank on you and Holmes. As you've forestalled it, I don't think I'll let you know what it was," and Dodge struck a match and set the papers on fire, throwing them into the fireplace.