“How did that—­that get in m—­my pocket?” mumbled poor Tom.  He was still hazy in his mind.

“You probably know better than anybody else,” retorted Professor Sharp.  “And you can tell, too, where the liquor went to,” he continued with a sneer.

“You’re a—­a—­contemptible old sneak!” cried Tom wrathfully, “and if I didn’t feel so—­so dizzy I’d knock you down!”

“Tom!” cried Dick warningly.  He was growing a little clearer in his mind, and could see that a terrible mistake had been made.

“You’ll not knock anybody down, you young villain!” roared Abner Sharp in a rage.  “I’ll teach you to come here and drink and carouse, and bring disgrace upon the fair name of Brill College!  I’ll have you dismissed and sent home in disgrace!”

“You’re making a mistake—­” began Dick.

“No, there is no mistake.  Of course you wish to hide the truth, and smooth matters over, but it won’t go with me, nor with Professor Blackie, either,” stormed Professor Sharp.  “We know what we see and what we smell.  You young fellows are a disgrace to Brill, and the sooner everybody knows it, the better.  Now, then, march to the roadway, every one of you, and no more back talk!”

“But, sir—­” began Stanley in dismay.

“Not another word!” cried Abner Sharp.  “If you have anything more to tell, you may tell it to Doctor Wallington.”

CHAPTER XXVII

IN DISGRACE

Still dizzy from the effects of the strange vapor, the students were driven rapidly over the country roads in the direction of Brill College.  The fresh air served to make them feel a little better, but all were far from clear headed when ushered into the presence of Doctor Wallington.

“We have brought them back with us, sir,” said Professor Sharp stiffly.

The president of the college gazed keenly at the Rovers and Stanley.  They looked at him in return, but blinked and swayed as they did so.

“I will listen to the story,” said Doctor Wallington, turning to the two instructors, and his voice had a hard tone to it that did not augur well for the students.

Thereupon Professor Sharp told how he had received an anonymous note stating that the Rovers and some others were going off to the old Jamison house to drink and gamble, and that it was thought they were going to take some innocent outsider with them, to fleece him of his money.  On receiving the note Abner Sharp had called Professor Blackie into consultation with him, and had gone off, after leaving word for the doctor about what they proposed to do.

“We found them—­the three Rovers and Stanley Browne—­in a beastly state,” continued Professor Sharp.  “Truly beastly state—­with empty liquor bottles and flasks strewn around, and Thomas Rover had a flask in his pocket, which I took from him.”  The instructor placed the flask on the president’s desk.  “There were also cigar butts scattered around, and some packs of playing-cards.”