"And now, Lovell, what do you know about this? Did this fit take place here?"
"In my room, sir."
"In your room—eh? What was Scaife, a Lower Boy, doing in your room?"
"Lawrence gave him his 'fez' to-day, sir."
Lawrence nodded.
"Ah! And Scaife was excited, perhaps unduly excited—eh?"
The Fifth joined in a chorus of, "Yes, sir—Oh, yes, sir—awfully excited, sir—never saw a boy so excited, sir."
"That will do. Now, Lovell, go on!"
"We had some siphons in our room, sir." A stroke of genius this—for the siphons were still on the table and the syrups, and the débris of cakes and meringues. Rutford would be sure to examine the scene of the catastrophe; and the whisky bottle was carefully hidden. "We were having a spread, sir, and we asked Scaife to join us. His play to-day made him one of us."
The other boys gazed admiringly at Lovell. What a cool, knowing hand!