"--is to say all the evil we can about a fellow who is down and can't
defend himself."
"What's the matter with Fullerton?" said Clapperton, with a sneer;
"surely he's not become one of Rollitt's champions?"
"If it matters specially to you what I think," said Fullerton, "I don't
believe a word of your precious story. First of all, Fisher major's
such a fool at accounts that it's not at all certain the money is lost;
secondly, Dangle is the accuser; thirdly, Rollitt is the accused;
fourthly, because if a similar charge were made against me, I should
certainly disappear."
"Ha, ha!" snarled Brinkman, "they've got hold of poor Fullerton, have
they? I wish them joy of him."
"Thanks very much," said Fullerton; "I don't intend to desert the dear
Moderns. You will have a splendid chance of taking it out of me for
daring to believe somebody innocent that you think guilty. I shall be
happy to see any three of you, whenever you like, I can hit out as well
as young Corder, so I hope Brinkman won't come. But Dangle now, or even
Clapperton, I shall be charmed to see. It's really their duty as
prefects to suppress any one who dares have an opinion of his own. I
simply long to be suppressed!"
This astounding revolt for the time being diverted attention from the
topic of the hour. The laughter with which it was greeted by the
Classics present did not tend to add to the comfort of Clapperton,
Brinkman, and Dangle, who very shortly discovered that it was time to go
to their own house.
"Wait for me," said Fullerton; "I'm coming too."
And, to their disgust, the rebel strolled along, with his hands in his
pockets, in their company, whistling pleasantly to himself and
absolutely ignoring their unfriendly attitude.
Meanwhile the question, "Where is Rollitt?" continued to exercise
Fellsgarth, from the head-master down to the junior fag. Bit by bit all
that could be found out about his movements came to light. His study
was visited by the masters. It disclosed the usual state of grime and
confusion. His fishing-rod and tackle were there. There had been no
attempt to pack his few belongings, which lay scattered about in dismal
disorder. The photograph of the pleasant, homely-looking woman on the
mantelpiece, with the inscription below, "Alfred, from Mother," stood in
its usual place. His Aristophanes lay open in the window-sill at the
place for to-day's lesson. Everything betokened an abrupt and hasty
departure.
Among the papers on his table was a fragment of some accounts recording
the outlay of little more than a few pence a week since the beginning of
the term.
When inquiry came to be made, it was found that he was last seen after
afternoon class yesterday, when he unexpectedly went to the School shop
and purchased from the attendant there (who had been put in charge of
that establishment during the indisposition of the managing directors)
half a dozen Abernethy biscuits.
The matron at Wakefield's remembered that only a day or two ago a parcel
had arrived for Rollitt--another unusual circumstance--containing a ham.
Of this possession no sign was now to be found in his study.
The inference from all these circumstances of course was, that however
abruptly he had departed, he had not gone home, but somewhere where food
would not be easy to procure in the ordinary way.
Messengers were sent to Penchurch to acquaint the police and inquire at
various places on the way for news of the missing boy. But no one had
seen him "out of touch" for several days--since his last fishing
expedition.
His home address was of course on the School books, and thither a
telegram was sent. But as the place was beyond the region of the wire,
no reply came for a day, when in answer to the doctor's inquiry if the
wanderer had returned home, there came an abrupt "No."
Meanwhile the doctor had had another conference with the seniors of both
houses, and inquired with every sign of dissatisfaction into the merits
of the suspicions which were the apparent cause of Rollitt's
disappearance.
To his demand why the matter was not reported to him, Yorke replied that
as far as he and Fisher major were concerned they did not suspect
Rollitt, and therefore had had nothing to report. The Modern seniors,
on the other hand, put in the plea that they had looked to the Classics
to take the matter up, and when they declined to do so, had reported the
matter to Mr Forder.
Then the doctor went into the particulars of Dangle's feud with the
missing boy, much to the embarrassment of the former.
"He insulted you by turning you out of Mr Wakefield's house, you say.
Why were you there?"
"I went to speak to some juniors."
"About what?"
"Clapperton wanted them--"
"No, I didn't. You went--" interrupted Clapperton.
"Silence, Clapperton. What were they wanted for, Dangle?"
"They had cheated at Elections."
"What was your object, then?"
"To punish them."
"Are you not aware that the captain of the School is the only prefect
who is allowed to punish?"
"Yes, sir, but--"
"Well?"
"We were not sure that their own prefects were going to take any notice
of it."
"I caned all four of them for it, and you saw me do it," said Yorke.
"Humph. And as to Rollitt, how came he to be present?" asked the
doctor.
"He came in."
"What were you doing when he came in?"
"There was a scuffle."
"You were striking those boys? What did Rollitt do? Did he strike
you?"
"No, sir."
"What then?"
"He--he," said Dangle, flushing up to be obliged to record the fact in
the presence of the other seniors, "he dragged me across the Green."
"Then you say he attacked you on another occasion on the football
field?"
And Dangle had to stand an uncomfortable cross-examination on this
incident too.
"What had it all got to do with Rollitt?" asked every one of himself.
"I ask you all these questions, Dangle," said the doctor, when he had
brought this chapter of history up to date, "because it seems to me you
are Rollitt's chief accuser in this matter. I wish I were able to feel
that you were not personally interested in your charges proving to be
true. That, of course, does not affect the case, as far as Rollitt is
concerned. The evidence against him is merely conjecture, so far."
"But I met him at Fisher's door that afternoon," said Dangle, determined
to make the most of his strong points.
"Why," said Fisher, "you told me you didn't know which my door was, when
you first spoke about it."
"I found out since, and it was the same door."
"Was he coming out of the room or going in!"
"Coming out."
"You are sure of that?"
"Yes, I remember because the door nearly struck me as he opened it."
"However could it do that!" exclaimed Fisher. "My door opens inwards!"