"Very wrong. You'll grow up a dunce and disgrace to the name of Bastable. Cut!"
"Bother!"
He made a wry mouth and went slowly away. Jack smiled.
"He'll do!" he said to himself. "But I wonder why Gudgeon's chimneys seem so uncommonly foul. I think I must pay Bill's father a visit some day."
He mentioned the matter of the chimney to Mr. Bastable when that gentleman returned later in the day, after starting the chase for the rogues who had dared to disturb the peace of law-abiding Luscombe. Mr. Bastable laughed.
"Yes, Gudgeon has an uncommon quantity of muck on his farm," he said, "but some good stuff, too—some uncommonly good stuff."
Jack did not regard this as a very satisfactory explanation.
That night he was roused from a very heavy sleep by a touch on his arm.
"Who's that?" he cried, springing up at once.
"Only me," said Arthur in a whisper. "I say, Jack, I heard some one moving about below. It seemed to be in De Fronsac's room."