After all he had gone through that night, it disturbed Fenn verylittle to find on the following morning that the professionalcracksman had gone off with one of the cups in his study. Certainly,it was not as bad as it might have been, for he had only abstractedone out of the half dozen that decorated the room. Fenn was a finerunner, and had won the "sprint" events at the sports for two yearsnow.

　　The news of the burglary at Kay's soon spread about the school. Mr Kaymentioned it to Mr Mulholland, and Mr Mulholland discussed it at lunchwith the prefects of his house. The juniors of Kay's were among thelast to hear of it, but when they did, they made the most of it, tothe disgust of the School House fags, to whom the episode seemed inthe nature of an infringement of copyright. Several spiritedby-battles took place that day owing to this, and at the lower end ofthe table of Kay's dining-room at tea that evening there could be seenmany swollen countenances. All, however, wore pleased smiles. They hadproved to the School House their right to have a burglary of their ownif they liked. It was the first occasion since Kennedy had become headof the house that Kay's had united in a common and patriotic cause.

　　Directly afternoon school was over that day, Fenn started for thetown. The only thing that caused him any anxiety now was the fear lestthe cap which he had left in the house in the High Street might riseup as evidence against him later on. Except for that, he was safe. Theheadmaster had evidently not remembered his absence from the festiveboard, or he would have spoken to him on the subject before now. If hecould but recover the lost cap, all would be right with the world.

　　Give him back that cap, and he would turn over a new leaf with arapidity and emphasis which would lower the world's record for thatperformance. He would be a reformed character. He would even go to theextent of calling a truce with Mr Kay, climbing down to Kennedy, andoffering him his services in his attempt to lick the house into shape.

　　As a matter of fact, he had had this idea before. Jimmy Silver, whowas in the position--common at school--of being very friendly with twopeople who were not on speaking terms, had been at him on the topic.

　　"It's rot," James had said, with perfect truth, "to see two chaps likeyou making idiots of themselves over a house like Kay's. And it's allyour fault, too," he had added frankly. "You know jolly well youaren't playing the game. You ought to be backing Kennedy up all thetime. Instead of which, you go about trying to look like a Christianmartyr--""I don't," said Fenn, indignantly.

　　"Well, like a stuffed frog, then--it's all the same to me. It'sperfect rot. If I'm walking with Kennedy, you stalk past as if we'dboth got the plague or something. And if I'm with you, Kennedysuddenly remembers an appointment, and dashes off at a gallop in theopposite direction. If I had to award the bronze medal for drivellinglunacy in this place, you would get it by a narrow margin, and Kennedywould be _proxime_, and honourably mentioned. Silly idiots!""Don't stop, Jimmy. Keep it up," said Fenn, settling himself in hischair. The dialogue was taking place in Silver's study.

　　"My dear chap, you didn't think I'd finished, surely! I was onlytrying to find some description that would suit you. But it's no good.

　　I can't. Look here, take my advice--the advice," he added, in themelodramatic voice he was in the habit of using whenever he wished toconceal the fact that he was speaking seriously, "of an old man whowishes ye both well. Go to Kennedy, fling yourself on his chest, andsay, 'We have done those things which we ought not to have done--' No.

　　As you were! Compn'y, 'shun! Say 'J. Silver says that I am a rotter. Iam a worm. I have made an ass of myself. But I will be good. Shake,pard!' That's what you've got to do. Come in."And in had come Kennedy. The attractions of Kay's were small, and heusually looked in on Jimmy Silver in the afternoons.

　　"Oh, sorry," he said, as he saw Fenn. "I thought you were alone,Jimmy.""I was just going," said Fenn, politely.

　　"Oh, don't let me disturb you," protested Kennedy, with winningcourtesy.

　　"Not at all," said Fenn.

　　"Oh, if you really were--""Oh, yes, really.""Get out, then," growled Jimmy, who had bee............