A Prefect's Uncle

ter, reeling into the study which he shared with Norris

stion on the morning of the M.C.C. match. Norris was engaged in p

you raise that Sport

t to administer a series of shocks to a friend than to sit by and watch him adminis

s, as Baker paused dramatically to let the

't play Surre

onday,' said Norris disgustedly, 'what on earth do they let

obability be the Beckford bowlers, and not a man who, as he was careful to point out, had run up a century

ock himself or anything. Rank bad

. A string of unknowns en

d Norris. 'Not O

get the initials wrong in the papers. Certain to be O. T. By the way, I

self by observing that Nott

he concluded with unction. In spite of the fact that he himself was playing in the match today, and might under the circumstances reasonably look fo

in answer to the last item of information,

year,' said Baker, 'and I heard rumours that

to bat at all today is to win the toss. Though Sammy and the Bishop

nary side. It's a sort o

but the M.C.C. sometimes have a bit of a tail.

d Baker. 'I do

alone he quitted Waterford, and attached himself to the genial Reginald. He wanted to talk business. He had not found the speculation of the two pounds a very profitable one. He had advanced the money under the impression that Farnie, by accepting it, was practically selling his independence. And there were certain matters in which Monk was largely interested, connected with the breaking of bounds and the purchase of contr

ng of his own funds, induced Monk to t

Farnie,

ul

er my lending you two

uch chance of forget

afford to be generous

it back,

'll get it at t

nt it

hy

hard up,

sixpence half-penny. If you will keep counting your money in

hanged his plan of action. He

point is that I want that four po

At the en

g to have

ve a pound

eno

re. If I could, do you think I should have bor

d rather raise that tin somehow than have it get about that

n in his easy code of morality there had always been one crime which was an anathema, the sor

e thinking of sneaking? Why, the fellows would boot you

t I've not told a soul. But, you know, if I let it out to anyone they might tell someone else, and so on. And if everybody

capit

e said, 'I'll

old chap,' said

though he had, as Farnie knew, no overwhelming amount of affection for his uncle, might in a case of great need prove blood to be thicker (as per advertisement) than water. But, he reflected, he must represent himself as in danger of expulsion rather than flogging. He had an uneasy idea that if the Bishop were to discover that all he stood to get was a flogging, he would remark with enthusiasm that, as far as he was concerned, the good work might go on

d, he might have known that he would not have been there while the match was going

udy wa

ecoration of one's private den. Many a man, at present respected by his associates, would stand forth unmasked at his true worth, could the world but look into his room. For there they would see that he was so lost to every sense of

g, as if they had not cost fourpence three farthings at a Christmas bargain sale. There were snap-shots of various moving incidents in the careers of the Bishop and his friends: Marriott, for example, as he appeared when carried to the Pavilion after that sensational century against the Authentics: Robertson of Blake

ok-shelf his eye was caught by an object more interesting still. It was a cash-box,

valuables always hermetically sealed. The difference between _meum_ and _tuum_ is so very rarely confused by the occupants of suc

e money. There were ten sovereigns, one half-sovereign, and a good deal of silver. One of the institutions at Beckford was a mission. The School by (more or less) voluntary contributions supported a species of home somewhere in the wilds of Kennington. No one knew exactly what or where this home was, but all paid their subscriptions

ul

Wilson was standi

d he, 'what are you

?' retorted F

Marriott said I might

ouldn't I come here if I like? Matt

e,' said Wils

? You've got an eye like a hawk, Wilson. I was jus

ou mucking his study up. Seen a book called _Round th

have another look round

And Wilson reti

e to be missed, and inquiries were made as to who had been in the study, and when, he would recall the interview. Two courses, the

ds, but this had never been more than a forlorn hope; and in the light of the possibilities opened out by the cash

vered no longer. He opened the box again, took out the contents, and dropped them into

ced with four sovereigns on the table in Monk's study. Finally he left the room, shut the door

that a result equally profitable to himself, and decidedly more convenient for all concerned--with the possible

t says, you can't t