“Come in,” said Rouse.
They turned in their chairs to see who came. There was a second’s dramatic wait. Then the door moved open and the visitor came in. He looked at them over the tops of his spectacles and made slowly for the table, and reaching it, he stood there looking first at one and then at the other.
“What is it, Henry?” asked Rouse.
“It’s this,” said Henry. “All that I told you is true. This evening Coles is moving into Seymour’s. He says that it’s an order from the Head.” He stopped and watched the effect of this news upon them. And then he said: “All Coles’ friends are in Seymour’s. Of course you know that.”
Still they made no comment. They were only looking at each other significantly.
Henry made ready to drop his bomb.
“That’s enough,” said he. “It makes a lot of things clear to me. But it’s not all. I told you Coles had a hold over that kid Carr. Well, Carr’s going over to Seymour’s with him—and he’s very nearly blubbing about it. That’s all.”
Rouse had struck the table with his fist. The mystery of the challenge was at last transparent to him.
“But ... Carr?” said Terence. “Why? Why Carr? Why’s he going?”
“Because,” said Henry, “Coles says that he was put in his care by Carr’s own people, and the Head believes him.”