"Hullo, young man!" said the latter, "where have you been?"
"To Thurston's study."
"What have you been there for?" demanded Allingford sharply, with a sudden change in his tone and manner.
"Only to give him his match-box that I picked up in the 'quad.'"
The captain eyed the speaker narrowly, as though half inclined to doubt the truth of this explanation; then, apparently satisfied with the honest expression of the small boy's face, told him to get down to supper.
The latter wandered off, wondering more than ever what could have been the object of the private gathering in Thurston's study which he had just interrupted.
"It's what I told you before," remarked Carton, when Diggory chanced to mention what had happened. "Thirsty's going to the dogs, and I believe big Fletcher's got a lot to do with it. Allingford can't interfere with them as long as they keep to themselves. I don't know what they do, but I shouldn't be surprised if there is a rare old kick-up one of these fine days."
Mischief certainly was brewing, and the "kick-up" came sooner than even
Carton himself expected.