“I’ve got something unpleasant to say,” he announced, raising his voice.

“Hush! hush! hush! what’s the row?” asked half a dozen at once.

“The whole of the cricket money, some six pounds at least, has vanished from the box in my study!”

For an instant the whole room was silent; Wildney and Graham interchanged anxious glances.

“Does any fellow know anything about this?”

All, or most, had a vague suspicion, but no one spoke.

“Where is Williams?” asked one of the sixth form casually.

“He’s taking tea with the Doctor,” said Wildney.

Mr. Rose came in, and there was no opportunity for more to be said, except in confidential whispers.

Duncan went up with Owen and Montagu to their study.  “What’s to be done?” was the general question.

“I think we’ve all had a lesson once before not to suspect too hastily.  Still, in a matter like this,” said Montagu, “one must take notice of apparent cues.”

“I know what you’re thinking of, Monty,” said Duncan.

“Well, then, did you hear anything when you and I surprised Eric suddenly two days ago?”

“I heard some one moving about in your study, as I thought.”

“I heard more—­though at the time it didn’t strike me particularly.  I distinctly heard the jingle of money.”

“Well, it’s no good counting up suspicious circumstances; we must ask him about it, and act accordingly.’

“Will he come up to the studies again to-night?”

“I think not,” said Owen; “I notice he generally goes straight to bed after he has been out to tea; that’s to say, directly after prayers.”

The three sat there till prayer-time taciturn and thoughtful.  Their books were open, but they did little work, and it was evident that Montagu was filled with the most touching grief.  During the evening he drew out a little likeness which Eric had given him, and looked at it long and earnestly.  “Is it possible?” he thought.  “Oh Eric! can that face be the face of a thief?”

The prayer-bell dispelled his reverie.  Eric entered with the Rowlands, and sat in his accustomed place.  He had spent a pleasant, quiet evening, and, little knowing what had happened, felt far more cheerful and hopeful than he had done before, although he was still ignorant how to escape the difficulty which threatened him.

He couldn’t help observing that as he entered he was the object of general attention; but he attributed it either to his playing that day, or to the circumstances in which he was placed by Billy’s treachery, of which he knew that many boys were now aware.  But when prayers were over, and he saw that every one shunned him, or looked and spoke in the coldest manner, his most terrible fears revived.

He went off to his dormitory, and began to undress.  As he sat half abstracted on his bed doing nothing Montagu and Duncan entered, and he started to see them, for they were evidently the bearers of some serious intelligence.