"I'm very sorry," he said, when he rejoined the shivering group, "butI'm afraid we shall have to call this match off. There seems to havebeen a mistake. None of my team are anywhere about. I'm awfully sorry,sir," he added, to Mr Blackburn, "to have given you all this troublefor nothing.""Not at all, Kennedy. We must try another day."Mr Blackburn suspected that something untoward had happened in Kay'sto cause this sudden defection of the first fifteen of the house. Heknew that Kennedy was having a hard time in his new position, and hedid not wish to add to his discomfort by calling for an explanationbefore an audience. It could not be pleasant for Kennedy to feel thathis enemies had scored off him. It was best to preserve a discreetsilence with regard to the whole affair, and leave him to settle itfor himself.

　　Jimmy Silver was more curious. He took Kennedy off to tea in hisstudy, sat him down in the best chair in front of the fire, andproceeded to urge him to confess everything.

　　"Now, then, what's it all about?" he asked, briskly, spearing a muffinon the fork and beginning to toast.

　　"It's no good asking me," said Kennedy. "I suppose it's a put-up jobto make me look a fool. I ought to have known something of this kindwould happen when I saw what they did to my first notice.""What was that?"Kennedy explained.

　　"This is getting thrilling," said Jimmy. "Just pass that plate.

　　Thanks. What are you going to do about it?""I don't know. What would you do?""My dear chap, I'd first find out who was at the bottom of it--there'sbound to be one man who started the whole thing--and I'd make it myaim in life to give him the warmest ten minutes he'd ever had.""That sounds all right. But how would you set about it?""Why, touch him up, of course. What else would you do? Before thewhole house, too.""Supposing he wouldn't be touched up?""Wouldn't _be!_ He'd have to.""You don't know Kay's, Jimmy. You're thinking what you'd do if thishad happened in Blackburn's. The two things aren't the same. Here theman would probably take it like a lamb. The feeling of the house wouldbe against him. He'd find nobody to back him up. That's becauseBlackburn's is a decent house instead of being a sink like Kay's. If Itried the touching-up before the whole house game with our chaps, theman would probably reply by going for me, assisted by the wholestrength of the company.""Well, dash it all then, all you've got to do is to call a prefects'

　　meeting, and he'll get ten times worse beans from them than he'd havegot from you. It's simple."Kennedy stared into the fire pensively.

　　"I don't know," he said. "I bar that prefects' meeting business. Italways seems rather feeble to me, lugging in a lot of chaps to helpsettle some one you can't manage yourself. I want to carry this jobthrough on my own.""Then you'd better scrap with the man.""I think I will."Silver stared.

　　"Don't be an ass," he said. "I was only rotting. Youcan't go fighting all over the shop as if you were a fag. You'd loseyour prefect's cap if it came out.""I could wear my topper," said Kennedy, with a grin. "You see," headded, "I've not much choice. I must do something. If I took no noticeof this business there'd be no holding the house. I should be ragged todeath. It's no good talking about it. Personally, I should prefertouching the chap up to fighting him, and I shall try it on. But he'snot likely to meet me half-way. And if he doesn't there'll be aninteresting turn-up, and you shall hold the watch. I'll send a kidround to fetch you when things look like starting. I must go now tointerview my missing men. So long. Mind you slip round directly I sendfor you.""Wait a second. Don't be in such a beastly hurry. Who's the chapyou're going to fight?""I don't know yet. Walton, I should think. But I don't know.""Walton! By Jove, it'll be worth seeing, anyhow, if we _are_ bothsacked for it when the Old Man finds out."Kennedy returned to his study and changed his football boots for apair of gymnasium shoes. For the job he had in hand it was necessarythat he should move quickly, and football boots are a nuisance on aboard floor. When he had changed, he called Spencer.

　　"Go down to the senior dayroom," he said, "and tell MacPherson I wantto see him."MacPherson was a long, weak-looking youth. He had been put down toplay for the house that day, and had not appeared.

　　"MacPherson!" said the fag, in a tone of astonishment, "not Walton?"He had been looking forward to the meeting between Kennedy and hisancient foe, and to have a miserable being like MacPherson offered asa substitute disgusted him.

　　"If you have no objection," said Kennedy, politely, "I may want you tofetch Walton later on."Spencer vanished, hopeful once more.

　　"Come in, MacPherson," said Kennedy, on the arrival o............