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For a mean person nearly always detests an honest one, and the more open and generous the one is, the meaner the other feels in his own heart by contrast. However, for some days Loman had not the painful reminder of his debt often before his eyes; for as long as the Doctor was absent Oliver remained in the Fifth.
Considering he had been miserably beaten in the scholarship examination, this show of satisfaction was all the more remarkable. "The fellow seems quite proud of himself," said Callonby to Wren as they passed him. "He's the only fellow who is, if that's so," said Wren. Loman stopped and spoke to them as they came up.
He knew well he could not have given his enemies a greater crow over him than such conduct, and yet he could not command his vanity to act otherwise. But that evening, just before tea-time, something happened which gave Loman more to think about than the Dominican. A letter marked "Immediate" came to him by the post. It was from Cripps, to say that, after all, Sir Patrick had won the Derby!
Oh, I say, Loman, beg us off. I never let out on you not even when you got " Wren, who had allowed this burst of eloquence to proceed thus far, here turned sharply on his heel, and left the two companions in wrong in possession of the field. Next morning, when Loman got up, he found the following note on his table: "Wraysford takes your place as monitor.
"Hullo! you fellows," said he, in as free and easy a manner as one fellow can assume to others who he knows dislike him, "I wanted to see you. Which way are you going? back to the school?" "Wren and I are going a stroll together," said Callonby, coldly; "good-bye." "Half a minute," said Loman. "I suppose you heard the results of the Nightingale read out."
"Considering I was sitting on the same form with you when they were, I suppose I did," said Wren. "That's all right," said Loman, evidently determined not to notice the snubbing bestowed on him. "Mine wasn't a very loud score, was it? Seventy! I was surprised it was as much!" The two Sixth boys looked at him inquiringly.
"I hope you got it back all right," continued Loman, who felt as if he must say something. "They are such fragile things, you know. I thought I'd just leave it in the bag and not touch it, but send it straight back, for fear it should be damaged." There was a queer smile about Mr Cripps's mouth as he asked, "Then you didn't have a look at it even?"
On the evening after the examination he received a note from Cripps brought up in a most barefaced way by one of the potboys at the Cockchafer requesting the pleasure of Mr Loman's company at that pleasant spot immediately, to talk over business! "Why didn't he send it by post?" demanded Loman, angrily, of the disreputable messenger. "Don't you know if you were seen up here there'd be a row?"
In due time the ordeal was over, and Mr Loman said he would now go and call upon these young gentlemen, and see what they had to say, and that Mr Cripps would most likely hear from him again. Altogether the landlord of the Cockchafer had hardly ever passed such an uncomfortable morning. Meanwhile the other searchers, among whom were Oliver and Wraysford, were busy.
"Why, you know," said Simon, off whom all such pretty side compliments as these were wont to roll like water off a duck's back "why, you know, about that paper?" "What paper?" said Loman, impatiently. "The one that was stolen out of the Doctor's study, you know. Isn't that a go? But we're going to hush it up. Honour bright!" Loman's face at that moment was anything but encouraging.
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