John slightly raised his thick eyebrows. It was curious that Cæsar always chose to ignore the hatred which he must have known to exist between his two friends. Or did he fatuously believe that, because John exercised an influence over himself, the same influence would or could be exercised over Scaife?
"We?" said John.
"I've tried and failed. But together, I say——"
"Jonathan, you must."
"It would be a fool's errand."
"We three have gone up the School together. You have never been fair to Scaife. I tell you he's sound at core. Why, after he was swished——"
Desmond told John what had passed; John shook his head. He could understand better than any one else why Scaife had broken down.
"He has splendid ambitions," pursued Desmond. "He's going to be a great soldier, you see. He thinks of nothing else. You never have liked him, but because of that I thought you would do what you could."
The disappointment and chagrin in his voice shook John's resolution.