But Soft Sam did nothing of the kind.

“Come along, boys, it’s all right. I’ll meet one of my lads before we have gone far.”

Even as he spoke a flash sulky, with a fast-trotting pony, driven by a superfine young swell, was dashing past. Old Sam put up his hand, and the vehicle stopped. He stepped forward, and this is what the young men heard—

“Give us a quid, Johnny.”

“A fiver if you like, Sam.”

“No, a quid will do.”

A pocket-book was brought out, the paper handed over, and with a mutual nod the sulky disappeared round the corner.

“A friend of yours?” inquired Huey.

“One of my pupils.”

“Then you are a kind of professor?”