The custodians of the culprit promptly obeyed this order, and led him to the blackboard, which was cleaned for immediate use. The school-room was well lighted, and the expression on the faces of all could be distinctly seen.
"Poodles, we desire to have justice done to all," said Vallington, when the culprit had taken his place at the blackboard. "You shall have fair play in every respect. You shall have a chance to prove that you were right, and Thornton wrong."
"Well, I was right," replied Poodles.
"Did you perform all the examples on your paper without any help?"
"Of course I did."
"Then of course you know how to perform them. Here is an examination paper. If you can perform five of the ten examples you shall be acquitted."
"Perhaps I don't choose to do them," said Poodles, looking around for some way to escape his fate.
"Are you not willing that the truth should come out?"
"I told the truth to-day."
"All right, if you did. You surely will not object to prove that you did. You shall have fair play, I repeat."