“I have already told you what has occurred, and have asked if any one here knows anything about the matter,” said the doctor. “I repeat the question. If any of you know anything, let there be no hesitation in speaking up.”
No reply. Boys looked straight in front of them and held their breaths.
“Very well,” said the doctor, his voice becoming harder and sterner, “I am to understand no boy here is able to throw any light on the mystery. Is that so?”
If silence gives consent, no question was ever more emphatically answered in the affirmative.
“I hoped it would be unnecessary to ask the question twice,” said Dr Plummer. “I decline to accept silence as an answer. Let the head boy come forward.”
Tempest left his place and advanced to the desk.
“Tempest, do you know anything of this matter?”
“No, sir,” said Tempest.
I felt the skin on the top of my head grow tight, and my breath catch in my throat. Never had I known the Dux to tell a lie to any one. What was I to do when my turn came?
“Go to your seat. The next boy come forward.”