Jack shuffled up the aisle and took his stand before the teachers. His examination was longer than the Trojan’s, but the other pupils heard not a word of it. Then Zorn was called, and again there was an exchange almost in whispers.
The sub-master consulted a list of names written on a card.
“Parker!” he said, after a moment’s reflection.
Sam made his way to the platform. By this time his curiosity was keen enough. Zorn, he noticed, had not gone back to his former seat, but had taken a place well forward, where he hardly could escape hearing whatever might be said.
“That’s a cheeky performance!” Sam told himself—and then forgot Zorn for the moment; for the sub-master was addressing him.
“Parker, perhaps you can help us. There is a point we wish to establish. In a case of—er—er—in a case of disputed ownership of a book, let us say, suppose Walker claimed it——”
“Then I’d say it was the Trojan’s—I mean, Walker’s,” Sam declared without hesitation.
“That is because you are a great friend of his?”
“It’s because Trojan always tells the truth, sir.”
“I see. You give him a general vote of confidence?”