Brayton and Spurlock were talking in low tones when the turnback approached them.
"Brayton," began Haynes, "I want to ask you to do me a bit of a favor."
Brayton did not stop his conversation with Spurlock, nor did he show any other sign of having heard the turnback.
"Brayton! I beg your pardon!"
But the first classman did not turn.
"Spurlock," asked Haynes, in a thick voice, "are you in this tommy-rot business, too?"
Spurlock, however, seemed equally deaf.
"Then see here, both of you——-" insisted Haynes, choking with anger.
The two first classmen turned their backs, walking slowly off.
There was no chance to doubt the fate that had overtaken him. Haynes had been "sent to Coventry." Henceforth, as long as he remained in the corps of cadets, he was to be "cut." No other cadet could or would speak to him, under the same penalty of also being sent to Coventry.