Hagle’s case was not to be disposed of so simply. When Sam led him to the principal, he made good his promise of clearing the Trojan. He offered no excuses, but the principal guessed shrewdly at the extent of the evil influence Zorn had exerted upon the weakling. Hagle was not expelled, but the sentence imposed upon the Trojan was shifted to his shoulders, with the addition that his recitation marks were canceled from the day of the test. It meant flat failure for him in the Latin for the term, and consequently the loss of a year—but Jack made no complaint. He told Sam that he felt he was getting off easily, as indeed he was; and he added, truthfully enough, that his greater ease of mind, now that justice was done, was worth all its cost, and more.
The principal asked Sam to remain after Hagle had gone. He studied the boy meditatively, and with a hint of distinct esteem.
“Parker,” he said, “I don’t, as a rule, ask pupils to sit as judge or jury; but, in this instance, I’m moved to seek your opinion. Frankly, I think you have won a right to be consulted. Now, as to Walker——”
Sam waited for him to finish the sentence; perceived that he had no intention of doing so; spoke what was in his heart, and spoke plainly:
“The thing that cut Trojan deepest, sir, was that he didn’t get a square deal—I mean, that’s how he felt. And I felt the same way. You can see for yourself now how things worked out to give us the worst of it. So it seems to me, sir, Trojan ought to come in for just the squarest sort of a deal that can be given him. Of course, I don’t know how Mr. Bacon may——”
At mention of the sub-master, who had conducted the inquiry, the principal made a movement, slight but perceptible. Somehow, Sam knew that his old suspicion had been justified, that the head of the school had not approved the course taken by his assistant.
“Mr. Bacon is not presently concerned in this matter,” said the principal. “You and I are discussing it—and only you and I. I believe on a previous occasion we agreed on the desirability of doing essential justice. But what is essential justice in this case?”
“Clearing Trojan’s name to begin with?”
“Certainly.”
“Then, putting him back where he was in his classes—fixing it so that he doesn’t lose his standing.”