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When one o'clock arrived on the first afternoon, and neither Ainger, Wake, Wignet, Tilbury, Herapath, nor the other familiar frequenters of the playing-field, put in an appearance, speculation began to pass about as to the cause of their absence. Some of Bickers's boys knew there had been a "howling shine" about something.
He looked again. It was not one blade only, but two or three. With an exclamation of consternation he tore off the covering and disclosed the turf! A joke? No wonder Mr Bickers's manner had been a trifle stiff that morning. However had it got there? It was like a conjurer's trick. No one had seen or touched the parcel but himself. He had himself placed it in Mr Bickers's hands.
But the fact remains that he virtually admits his knowledge of the offender last term, and at the same time refuses to give him up to justice. Under those circumstances I had no choice but to accept his resignation." For a moment Branscombe's letter burned uncomfortably in Mr Bickers's pocket while the doctor was speaking. But it cooled again, and when Mr Grover said,
If he lost that train he would have to wait till six. He told the cabman to put the portmanteau on the top, and wait for him at the door of Bickers's house, and then walked after Mrs Phillips, rather impatiently. He had never set foot in Mr Bickers's house before, and experienced a curious sensation as he crossed the threshold of his enemy's citadel.
Monsieur had heard, of course, as everyone else had, of the new master's matrimonial prospects. "No," said Railsford, gloomily; "not always," and he pitched Mr Bickers's letter into the grate as he spoke. "Perhaps," said monsieur, "you do not always write them. I advise you to not answer that letter." "Why?" said Railsford, "how do you know what that letter is?"
"Never mind, we got the mile, and that was the crackest thing of all. We had to beat Smedley and Branscombe, both only Branscombe he's Bickers's prefect didn't run it out last week. Smedley's time was 4.50. Ainger and Stafford ran for us; and Ranger was put on the track with 200 yards start to force the pace. "Stafford was out of it easily; but Ranger stuck to it like a Trojan.
"You have come to tell me that Mr Bickers's assailants are discovered?" said he. "I wish I could," said Railsford. "I have only had time to speak to my prefects." "Two of whom are not to be trusted, and profess a personal spite against Mr Bickers." This was just like the doctor. He gave other people information and never wanted any himself. "I know, of course, what you refer to.
There's not even a fellow in the house I can suspect so far." "You feel sure it's one of your fellows?" "It couldn't be anyone else. Roe's and Grover's fellows never come over our side, and never have anything to do with Bickers. And it's hardly likely any of Bickers's fellows would have done it.
Get some of them to keep something; till I come back. How's Tilbury? By the way, who am I stuck with this term? I don't want to get chummed again with that young ass Simson. Tell Moss that. Any more rows with Bickers's lot? There will be when I come back! I've got half a dozen of them in my eye. Gov. says I'll have to wake up this term. What a go!
All this Arthur remembered now, and, carrying his mind a day or two further back, he recalled Mr Bickers's uninvited visit to the house Arthur had painful cause to remember it and Railsford's evident resentment of the intrusion, and the threatenings of slaughter which had been bandied about between the two houses ever since. "Why," said Arthur to himself, "it's as clear as a pikestaff.
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