"What the deuce is Parfitt glaring at me for?" he thought. "Is it possible that he could have seen me leave the dormitory?"
As he put to himself the question, the voice of Mr. Weevil once more broke the silence:
"Does any boy know whether any of his companions was absent from his dormitory last night? Don't let him keep silent under any false notion of honour. It is for the honour of the school that he should speak. If he speaks, I will take care that no punishment falls upon him."
Paul sat rigid as stone. If Parfitt saw him leave the dormitory, now was his time to speak; but no voice broke the silence.
"Very well; I had hoped that the culprit would own up to his fault, or that we should have had assistance from some of you to find him out. I am disappointed in my expectation. As I have been unable to find the culprit with your assistance, I must do so without it. And be sure I will," added Mr. Weevil firmly.
Prayers were said and a hymn sung, and the boys were on the point of filing out to the different class-rooms, when Newall stepped up to Mr. Weevil's desk.
"I hope Moncrief isn't to be kept in Dormitory X any longer, sir," he said.
"What's it to do with you—eh?"
"You forget, sir. I was in the row. I ought to have spoken at the time; it was I really started the row—not Moncrief."
"You, was it? Let me hear how it all happened."