Steve shrugged. "I'll get by," he answered. "Anyway, I don't intend to stay cooped up here all the evening. I'll have a go at it when I get back, maybe."
"We-ell." Tom looked as though he wanted to advise against that course, but he didn't. Instead, "Do you mind waiting for me a minute?" he asked. "I want to run down and ask Mr. Daley about something, if he's back. Do you want to see him if he's there? I'll whistle up to you if you like."
Steve shook his head indifferently. "I'll see him when we come back," he answered. "Hurry up."
Tom was back in two or three minutes. "Still out," he announced as he put back on the table the French book he had taken with him. "He's getting a bit dissipated, I'm afraid, staying out after eight!"
"There's a faculty meeting to-night, I think," responded Steve. "Are you ready?"
He found his cap and followed Tom. In the corridor the latter glanced back. "Better turn out the light," he said. "They've been after the fellows lately about leaving it burning."
Grumblingly Steve stepped back and snapped the switch. "Who's monitor here, anyhow?" he asked.
"Upton," answered Tom. "And they say he's right on his job, too."
"He would be," growled the other. "He's a regular teacher's pet." As they went down the stairs Steve said: "I came across Eric Sawyer in the hall when I went down to find 'Horace'."
"Really?" asked Tom. "Did he—say anything?"