"I don't. We don't want to waste our energies that way when there's a much better way and better work to do."
"Trying to crawl out of it again," came in a sneering aside from Parfitt. "Was there ever such a wriggler?"
"Let's hear the better way," said Hasluck; and there were many others in the Form, in spite of the sneering remark of Parfitt, who were equally anxious to hear what "the better way" could be.
"There's a shadow resting upon the school—resting upon every one of us," said Paul solemnly.
"What shadow are you talking about?" asked Hasluck.
"The leaves from the Black Book—the stolen papers from Mr. Weevil's desk," said Paul. "Until the thief is found out, suspicion rests upon every boy in the Form—upon every boy in the school. What I suggest is, that we leave off fighting till we've found out who the thief is. I don't want to preach, but I think that will be a great deal more to our honour and the honour of our school."
Paul paused. "If Parfitt has anything to accuse me of, now will be his time," he thought.
He had not to wait long. Parfitt did speak, but scarcely in the way he had anticipated.
"Honour of the school!" he cried. "Anybody would think that Percival's the only one who cares for it. Let him take care of his own honour first, and the honour of the school will take care of itself."
Parfitt's pointed remark was loudly applauded. Paul saw that he was likely to be defeated unless he could make a stronger appeal to the sympathies of the Form.