I caught two of the
youths exchanging glances under raised eyebrows. Yet their
stout, easy-going mentor had given me such a reassuring glance of
side-long humor, as between man of the world and man of the
world, that it was difficult to suspect him of suspicion. I was
nevertheless itching to be gone.
Young Olphert told his story with engaging candor. It was true
that they had come down for an hour's Nap and cigarettes; well,
and there was no denying that there was whiskey in the glasses.
The boys were now all back in their class-room, I think entirely
for the sake of warmth; but Raffles and I were in knickerbockers
and Norfolk jackets, and very naturally remained without, while
the army-crammer (who wore bedroom slippers) stood on the
threshold, with an eye each way. The more I saw of the man the
better I liked and the more I feared him. His chief annoyance
thus far was that they had not called him when they heard the
noise, that they had dreamt of leaving him out of the fun. But
he seemed more hurt than angry about that.
"Well, sir," concluded Olphert, "we left old Beefy Smith hanging
on to his hand, and this gentleman with him, so perhaps he can
tell us what happened next?"
"I wish I could," I cried with all their eyes upon me, for I had
had time to think. "Some of you must have heard me say I'd fetch
my friend in from the road?"
"Yes, I did," piped an innocentfrom within.
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