Paul stepped forward.
"You know the charge against you?"
"No, sir; I've come to hear."
"The charge is in this petition," said the master, taking up the petition, which he unfolded and placed on the desk. "I needn't read it, but I can tell you briefly what the charge is. The charge is that you connived with the boys of a rival college—St. Bede's—to have the flag, which is held in so much honour and esteem here, stolen from the tower."
"Yes, sir. Anything more?" asked Paul, as the master paused and glanced down at the petition.
"The petition further alleges that having placed this dishonour on the school, you connived with the enemy to keep it by them till it suited your time and purpose, and that then you arranged for its return."
"Time and purpose?" repeated Paul. "What purpose?"
"What purpose?" repeated the master, glancing again at the petition. "It is clearly enough set forth. Listen. 'Percival had made enemies of his Form, and had looked for his friends at St. Bede's. His object in getting back the flag was to try to regain at one stroke some of his lost popularity.' Is that clear enough?"
"Quite clear, sir. What followed?"
"A resolution was moved and carried, with only one dissentient, that you should be expelled from the school."