At last he went out like the man in a fairy tale to seek his fortune, and his success was appropriately rapid. Evidently, in spite of having been called an ass at a Rugger meeting, this was his lucky day. Out on the gravel path behind the school he came upon a small group. The group was composed of Henry and Carr and the fat boy whose name was Coppin. He stood aside for a moment unnoticed and watched what was happening. Henry was striking a favourite pose, that of the plain-clothes man interrogating a suspect. He had a stiff finger pressed against the fat boy’s waistcoat, and his eyes were turned up so as to look over the tops of his spectacles at the unhappy Coppin. His height was unimposing because he had adopted a crouch in order to place full emphasis behind the forefinger with which he was pinning the fat boy down. Bobbie Carr had the appearance of an interested spectator more than anything else, but he was talking at the time that Coles came upon them, and it was clear that he was accusing the fat boy of some misdemeanour.
From the fat boy’s expression too it was clear that he was fairly and squarely cornered. Coles tumbled to the position of affairs with praiseworthy rapidity. He could identify the fat boy at once from Terence’s description at the meeting, and it seemed clear to Coles that the other two were accusing him of sneaking, or perhaps even of laying false evidence against Rouse. The fat boy’s countenance would have given away his guilt if nothing else had.
Coles waited a minute or two in consideration of affairs and then came to a quick decision. There was very little time left before afternoon school. He must act quickly.
His voice rang out, and Henry jumped hurriedly sideways as if in remembrance of recent happenings. Carr came over to him obediently.
“Here,” said Coles, “I’ve been trying to find you for a deuce of a long time. Now that I’ve found you try and be intelligent and don’t waste time making me say things twice.... I’m in no end of a hurry. Rouse is going to ask for you as his fag. Did you get him to do that?”
“No,” said Carr.
“You didn’t? That’s just as well for you. Because you won’t get the better of me that way. Very well, then. Understand that if you’re given the opportunity, you don’t want to change. D’you get me? If they ask you whom you want to fag for, it’s me.”
He paused. Bobbie was looking at him dubiously.
“Why?”
“Why?” repeated Coles. “Because I tell you so. You know why you’d better do as I tell you, don’t you?”