Rollitt’s return to Fellsgarth was almost as mysterious as his disappearance. He answered to his name at call-over next morning as if he had never missed a day this term. And as Dr Ringwood and the other masters were present, and made no remark, it was generally concluded that the truant had turned up over-night, and had had it out with the authorities before bedtime.
Mr Rollitt, Senior, had departed. He had looked into Wally’s study after the owner and his crew were in bed to get his bag, and had been driven down in the doctor’s fly to Penchurch.
It was also understood that most of the Classic seniors had dropped into Rollitt’s study early that morning. To some he had said, “Get out”; with others he had shaken hands. The captain had evidently been among the latter; as, on the notice board that morning, among the names of the fifteen who were to play the first match for the new clubs on Saturday against Penchurch, was that of Rollitt. The excitement caused by this discovery almost put into the shade for the time the equally remarkable fact that Clapperton and Brinkman were included in the same team.
Where Rollitt had been, and what he had been doing, remained a mystery. It was, of course, out of the question to ask him. Conjecture was rife, and was greatly assisted by the juniors, who hazarded all sorts of plausible explanations for the general benefit.
“Think he’s been to Land’s End?” said Wally. “I hear you can do it in a week—sharp walking.”
“You can get to America in that time,” said Lickford.
“Yes—he does seem to have rather a twang on him. Perhaps that’s where he’s been to,” remarked D’Arcy.
“Penny bank coal-mine’s only fifty miles away,” said Percy. “It runs under the sea ever so far. I should say it was a ripping place to hide in.”
From which and other similar remarks it was concluded that the juniors had a much better notion as to where Rollitt had been than they chose to admit.
They eagerly embraced the first opportunity of going to the shop, and investigating the scene of the mystery for themselves. They carefully locked the outer door against possible intruders, and then in Indian file ascended the stone ladder, and after it the corkscrew staircase.