Part 4 (2/2)

That empire-builder's ”make-up” could hardly be called a becoming one. A red nose gave him a bibulous appearance, his blue chin suggested late rising and the absence of a razor, and a highly unsymmetrical moustache, executed in mauve chalk, stood out in vivid contrast to his blackened right eye. It says much for the impression which Mr.

Pocklington's introductory harangue had produced that not a child in the room so much as smiled.

The perspiring butler having set down his alcoholic-looking burden upon a small table and withdrawn, attended by his satellite,--the only person present, by the way, who appeared inclined to regard the situation with levity,--Mr. Pocklington once more addressed his cowering audience.

”I will now ask the perpetrator of this outrage,” he thundered, ”to stand up, that I may punish him as he deserves.”

The little girls all s.h.i.+vered with apprehension, but one or two little boys looked slightly amused. They were not very old or experienced, but they were not green enough to join gratuitously in a game of ”Dilly, Dilly, come and be killed!”

Mr. Pocklington played his next card.

”I may add,” he continued, ”that a boy was seen to leave the Study in a surrept.i.tious manner shortly after this offence must have been committed. No one has entered the Study since. That boy, therefore, must be the culprit. If he does not immediately respond to the dictates of his conscience and stand up in his place--I shall expose him! Now, please!”

There was a death-like silence, suddenly broken by piercing shrieks from one Gwendoline Harvey, aged seven, for whose infant nerves the strain had proved too great.

”Please, it wasn't me,” she wailed, ”and--and--and I've lost my hankey!”

Tender-hearted Miss Arabella supplied the deficiency, and led her out, still sobbing. The inquisition was resumed.

”I shall give the culprit one more minute,” announced Mr. Pocklington in the tones of a Grand Inquisitor.

There was another tense silence. The inmates of Wentworth House School breathed hard, looked straight before them, and waited with their small mouths wide open. One or two little girls--and small boys, for that matter--gripped the benches convulsively, and with difficulty refrained from screaming.

”The minute has elapsed,” proclaimed the Grand Inquisitor. ”Philip, stand up!”

”Ah!” A long, shuddering sigh, partly of relief and partly of apprehension, ran round the room. Pipette turned deathly pale. Pip rose slowly to his feet, staring intently in his disconcerting way at the besotted features of Julius Caesar.

”Philip,” said Mr. Pocklington, ”you were seen coming out of the Study at one-twenty. What have you to say?”

Pip had nothing to say, but transferred his gaze to Mr. Pocklington. As a matter of fact he had not entered the Study. He had spent some time, it was true, in the pa.s.sage outside the door, but that was because he was waiting for Thomas Oates, having arranged to meet him there for five minutes, for the purpose of adjusting a small difference on a matter of a purely personal character, calling for plenty of elbow-room and freedom from publicity. Tommy Oates had not appeared, and Pip had been late for luncheon in consequence.

”Do you confess to this outrage?” inquired Mr. Pocklington, coming suddenly to the point.

Pip collected himself. Then as common politeness seemed to demand some sort of reply, he said, ”No.”

Another slight shudder pa.s.sed round the room.

”Do you know anything about the matter?”

Pip was about to reply with another negative, when it suddenly flashed across his mind that as he stood outside the Study waiting for Master Oates he had experienced considerable difficulty in getting rid of Isabel Dinting, who had hovered around him in a highly flattering but most embarra.s.sing fas.h.i.+on just when he wished to compose and concentrate his faculties for his coming interview with Tommy. What was she doing there? What could her business have been? In plain truth she had come to avert a possible battle between Pip and Tommy, but this never occurred to Pip: he had not thought it possible that any one should take such a close interest in his movements. Anyhow this was no concern of his. Accordingly he said, ”No” a second time.

Then came another question.

”Do you deny having been in the Study?”

”Yes.”

”But you were seen coming from the pa.s.sage leading to the Study door.”

No answer.

”Do you admit that you were in that pa.s.sage?”

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