“What do you mean?” said Fred wonderingly.
Sid turned to the boy who was sitting in the room to wait upon him.
“Would you mind leaving me alone with Rushton for a few minutes, Henley?” he asked.
“Sure thing!” answered Henley, rising. “I’ll come in again later on.”
He left the room; and Sid turned to Fred.
“It’s about the examination papers,” he said, shamefacedly.
Fred’s heart gave a leap as though it would jump out of his body.
“What do you mean?” he cried excitedly.
“I mean,” and Sid’s face went red with the shame of the confession, “that Andy Shanks and I put up a job on you. We took the papers and put them in your locker, so that Professor Raymond would think you stole them. There, it’s out now.”
The room seemed to be whirling about Fred. The blood pounded madly through his veins. With an effort he steadied himself.