"Ask me another. It—it looks like——"
But before Hasluck could explain what it looked like Newall had dashed up to them.
"Newall!" came the astonished cry.
"Who—who's been doing this?" he cried, glaring fiercely round on his companions.
"Doing what?" asked Hasluck.
"Can't you see? Nearly smothering me with feathers, and fastening me in the Forum."
"We know nothing of it. We were just coming to the meeting when we heard the shouting," answered Parfitt, in an injured tone. "Is it likely we'd play a trick on you, Newall?"
"It sounded like some of those imps of the Third. They were talking to me as if I were Baldry."
At this moment Paul joined the group, wondering what was the matter. Directly Newall caught sight of him, he turned towards him fiercely:
"Do you know anything of this? Had you a hand in it?"