"Suppose," said Shoeblossom to Barry, as they were walking over toschool on the morning following the day on which Milton's study hadpassed through the hands of the League, "suppose you thought somebodyhad done something, but you weren't quite certain who, but you knew itwas some one, what would you do?""What on _earth_ do you mean?" inquired Barry.

　　"I was trying to make an A.B. case of it," explained Shoeblossom.

　　"What's an A.B. case?""I don't know," admitted Shoeblossom, frankly. "But it comes in a bookof Stevenson's. I think it must mean a sort of case where you calleveryone A. and B. and don't tell their names.""Well, go ahead.""It's about Milton's study.""What! what about it?""Well, you see, the night it was ragged I was sitting in my study witha dark lantern--""What!"Shoeblossom proceeded to relate the moving narrative of hisnight-walking adventure. He dwelt movingly on his state of mindwhen standing behind the door, waiting for Mr Seymour to come inand find him. He related with appropriate force the hair-raisingepisode of the weird white figure. And then he came to the conclusionshe had since drawn (in calmer moments) from that apparition's movements.

　　"You see," he said, "I saw it coming out of Milton's study, and thatmust have been about the time the study was ragged. And it went intoRigby's dorm. So it must have been a chap in that dorm, who did it."Shoeblossom was quite clever at rare intervals. Even Barry, whosebelief in his sanity was of the smallest, was compelled to admit thathere, at any rate, he was talking sense.

　　"What would you do?" asked Shoeblossom.

　　"Tell Milton, of course," said Barry.

　　"But he'd give me beans for being out of the dorm, after lights-out."This was a distinct point to be considered. The attitude of Barrytowards Milton was different from that of Shoeblossom. Barry regardedhim--through having played with him in important matches--as a goodsort of fellow who had always behaved decently to him. Leather-Twigg,on the other hand, looked on him with undisguised apprehension, as onein authority who would give him lines the first time he came intocontact with him, and cane him if he ever did it again. He had adecided disinclination to see Milton on any pretext whatever.

　　"Suppose I tell him?" suggested Barry.

　　"You'll keep my name dark?" said Shoeblossom, alarmed.

　　Barry said he would make an A.B. case of it.

　　After school he went to Milton's study, and found him still broodingover its departed glories.

　　"I say, Milton, can I speak to you for a second?""Hullo, Barry. Come in."Barry came in.

　　"I had forty-three photographs," began Milton, without preamble. "Alldestroyed. And I've no money to buy any more. I had seventeen of EdnaMay."Barry, feeling that he was expected to say something, said, "By Jove!

　　Really?""In various positions," continued Milton. "All ruined.""Not really?" said Barry.

　　"There was one of Little Tich--"But Barry felt unequal to playing the part of chorus any longer. It wasall very thrilling, but, if Milton was going to run through the entirelist of his destroyed photographs, life would be too short forconversation on any other topic.

　　"I say, Milton," he said, "it was about that that I came. I'm sorry--"Milton sat up.

　　"It wasn't you who did this, was it?""No, no," said Barry, hastily.

　　"Oh, I thought from your saying you were sorry--""I was going to say I thought I could put you on the track of the chapwho did do it--"For the second time since the interview began Milton sat up.

　　"Go on," he said.

　　"--But I'm sorry I can't give you the name of the fellow who told meabout it.""That doesn't matter," said Milton. "Tell me the name of the fellow whodid it. That'll satisfy me.""I'm afraid I can't do that, either.""Have you any idea what you _can_ do?" asked Milton, satirically.

　　"I can tell you something which may put you on the right track.""That'll do for a start. Well?""Well, the chap who told me--I'll call him A.; I'm going to make anA.B. case of it--was coming out of his study at about one o'clock inthe morning--""What the deuce was he doing that for?""Because he wanted to go back to bed," said Barry.

　　"About time, too. Well?""As he was going past your study, a white figure emerged--""I should strongly advise you, young Barry," said Milton, gravely, "notto try and rot me in any way. You're a jolly good wing three-quarters,but you shouldn't presume on it. I'd slay the Old Man himself if herotted me about this business."Barry was quite pained at this sceptical attitude in one whom he wasgoing out of his way to assist.

　　"I'm not rotting," he protested. "This is all quite true.""Well, go on. You were saying something about white figures emergi............