“Why ever can’t you chaps be in the way when you’re wanted?” prowled Percy. “There was Clapperton in here just now talking rot about the meeting next week. What do you think? He says we’re not to go to it.”
“Why not?”
Percy in his lucid manner tried to explain.
“All gammon,” said Lickford. “If we’re to be stopped going to Hall, we shall be stopped grub next.”
This was an argument that went home.
“If Clapperton had made it worth our while, you know,” said Cottle, “it might have been different. I don’t care much about the meeting; but if I stop away for him, I’ll get something for it.”
This mercenary view of the subject was new to Percy, but he frankly accepted it.
“I tell you what,” said he; “here, give us a pen; we’ll just draw up a few conditions. If he accepts them we’ll stay away; if he don’t, he may hang himself before we sit out.”
After much deliberation, the following charter of six points was drawn up and laid on Clapperton’s table.
“On the following conditions the undersigned will stop out of Hall on October 3,—namely, to wit, viz., i.e.:—