Part 7 (1/2)

”Tea,” said Jellicoe; ”we shall have to go now.”

”They won't do anything till after tea, I shouldn't think,” said Mike.

”There's no harm in going out.”

The pa.s.sage was empty when they opened the door; the call to food was evidently a thing not to be treated lightly by the enemy.

In the dining room the beleaguered garrison were the object of general attention. Everybody turned to look at them as they came in. It was plain that the study episode had been a topic of conversation. Spiller's face was crimson, and Robinson's coat sleeve still bore traces of garden mold.

Mike felt rather conscious of the eyes, but Psmith was in his element.

His demeanor throughout the meal was that of some whimsical monarch condescending for a freak to revel with his humble subjects.

Toward the end of the meal Psmith scribbled a note and pa.s.sed it to Mike. It read: ”Directly this is over, nip upstairs as quickly as you can.”

Mike followed the advice; they were first out of the room. When they had been in the study a few moments, Jellicoe knocked at the door. ”Lucky you two cut away so quick,” he said. ”They were going to try and get you into the senior day room and scrag you there.”

”This,” said Psmith, leaning against the mantelpiece, ”is exciting, but it can't go on. We have got for our sins to be in this place for a whole term, and if we are going to do the Hunted Fawn business all the time, life in the true sense of the word will become an impossibility. My nerves are so delicately attuned that the strain would simply reduce them to hash. We are not prepared to carry on a long campaign--the thing must be settled at once.”

”Shall we go down to the senior day room, and have it out?” said Mike.

”No, we will play the fixture on our own ground. I think we may take it as tolerably certain that Comrade Spiller and his hired ruffians will try to corner us in the dormitory tonight. Well, of course, we could fake up some sort of barricade for the door, but then we should have all the trouble over again tomorrow and the day after that. Personally I don't propose to be chivied about indefinitely like this, so I propose that we let them come into the dormitory, and see what happens. Is this meeting with me?”

”I think that's sound,” said Mike. ”We needn't drag Jellicoe into it.”

”As a matter of fact--if you don't mind ...” began that man of peace.

”Quite right,” said Psmith; ”this is not Comrade Jellicoe's scene at all; he has got to spend the term in the senior day room, whereas we have our little wooden _chalet_ to retire to in times of stress. Comrade Jellicoe must stand out of the game altogether. We shall be glad of his moral support, but otherwise, _ne pas_. And now, as there won't be anything doing till bedtime, I think I'll collar this table and write home and tell my people that all is well with their Rupert.”

6

UNPLEASANTNESS IN THE SMALL HOURS

Jellicoe, that human encyclopedia, consulted on the probable movements of the enemy, deposed that Spiller, retiring at ten, would make for Dormitory One in the same pa.s.sage, where Robinson also had a bed. The rest of the opposing forces were distributed among other and more distant rooms. It was probable, therefore, that Dormitory One would be the rendezvous. As to the time when an attack might be expected, it was unlikely that it would occur before half past eleven. Mr. Outwood went the round of the dormitories at eleven.

”And touching,” said Psmith, ”the matter of noise, must this business be conducted in a subdued and _sotto voce_ manner, or may we let ourselves go a bit here and there?”

”I shouldn't think old Outwood's likely to hear you--he sleeps miles away on the other side of the house. He never hears anything. We often rag half the night and nothing happens.”

”This appears to be a thoroughly nice, well-conducted establishment.

What would my mother say if she could see her Rupert in the midst of these reckless youths!”

”All the better,” said Mike; ”we don't want anybody b.u.t.ting in and stopping the show before it's half started.”

”Comrade Jackson's berserk blood is up--I can hear it sizzling. I quite agree these things are all very disturbing and painful, but it's as well to do them thoroughly when one's once in for them. Is there n.o.body else who might interfere with our gambols?”

”Barnes might,” said Jellicoe, ”only he won't.”

”Who is Barnes?”