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"It's all a plot," said Rampson to himself "all a scheme to oust me, and I'll never forgive Morris so long as I live. I say," he said aloud, "that Mr Barclay seems to have a deal to say to your friend the Prince. Do you know what they are talking about?" "India, and Sanskrit, and catching elephants," replied Glyn. "Has he been out in India?"
I thought that it would be only civil to ask him to dinner and explain to him that it was perfectly hopeless for him to expect anything from me; and, in short, one feels a little sympathetic towards a cultivated gentleman who is seeking to obtain an appointment in a none-too-well-paid profession. So now you see, my dear Mr Rampson, that you have not the slightest cause for uneasiness."
"You know my rules, and that I have forbidden fighting. Here, somebody, one of the high form boys you, Burney, let me hear what you have to say. Speak out, sir. Ah, you have been seconder, I suppose?" "Yes, sir," faltered the lad, whose hands showed unpleasant traces of what he had been doing. "Ah," continued the Doctor. "Mr Rampson, see that not a boy dares to move.
Now, don't you think he might accept my services, say, for a non-resident and three days a week?" "No," said Morris, "I am sure he wouldn't. Your coming made Rampson dreadfully jealous, and he told me afterwards that the Doctor assured him that he should make no change." "Well, say one day a week."
"No, sir, I do not; but I don't want to suddenly find myself supplanted by another master through the machinations of a brother-teacher." "Don't speak angrily, Mr Rampson. Pray, who has been trying to supplant you?" "Well, sir, I am a blunt man, and I have come to speak out. I am afraid that Morris why, I know not has been introducing this Professor Barclay to you to try to get him in my post."
My mind does not serve me as to what these things are called in India; but I think, and I dare say Mr Rampson will set me right if I am wrong, that in the old classic days in the Punic or Carthaginian wars what were termed castles were fitted on to the backs of elephants, from which archers, slingers, and javelin-throwers dealt out destruction among their foes." "Yes, sir.
The Doctor was seated at his study-table, with the open French window letting in the fresh morning breeze and giving him a view, when he raised his eyes from his book, right across the cricket-field to the clump of elms, when there was a tap at the door, responded to by the customary "Come in!" and Mr Rampson entered. "Ah, good-morning, Mr Rampson," said the Doctor suavely. "Good-morning, sir.
"Indeed, Mr Rampson!" said the Doctor, with a smile. "Well, then, let me set you at your ease at once. Morris did not introduce this gentleman, for he came to me with an introduction from one of the professors at Addiscombe, a gentleman I do not know from Adam. I find that he has been for a few months a resident in the town here, where he is carrying on some study.
"Hear, hear!" said Mr Rampson, the heavy, solid-looking classical master, impressed by the Principal's allusion to the Roman sports; and he grumbled out something in a subdued voice, with his eyes shut. What it was the boys did not hear, but it was evidently a Latin quotation, and ended in ibus.
It was a favourable moment for calling a drum a tympanum and giving descriptions of the different forms, curves, and lengths of the various trumpets used by the Roman soldiery in their warlike processions, all of which Slegge voted bosh, and intimated his opinion to the next boy that old Rampson had better go to the other end of the forms and pour it out on the two new fellows.
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