Widow Wisdom had nothing to say except in praise of Master Rollitt, and was glad enough in support of it to relate the incident of the boat, and even produce the receipt, which she carried about like a talisman in her pocket. She had no idea that her glowing testimony was to be used against her favourite, or she would have bitten off her tongue sooner than give it:
As for Fisher minor, confused and abashed in the presence of so many seniors, he blundered out his story of the eventful half-holiday, looking in vain towards his brother to ascertain if he was doing well or ill. He blabbed all he knew about Rollitt; the condition of his study, the nature of his solitary walks, the poverty of his possessions-- everything that could possibly confirm the suspicions against him; and forgot to mention anything which might in the least avail on the other side.
At the close of the court-martial Mr Forder summed up.
"I am afraid it is a very clear case," said he. "It is very painful to think that a Fellsgarth boy should come to such a pa.s.s. The matter must be reported to the head-master. But before doing so it would be fair to see Rollitt, and hear what he has to say. We have no right to condemn any one unheard. If he is innocent, it will be easy for him to prove it. Fisher major, will you tell him to come?"
Fisher major reluctantly obeyed. It was nearly half an hour before he returned, and then he came alone.
"I cannot find Rollitt, sir. He is not in the house. He was absent from morning call-over. And the house-keeper says he was not in his room this morning, and that his bed was not slept in last night."
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.
BOLTED!
However slowly the rumour of Rollitt"s dishonesty had spread through the School, the news of his disappearance spread like wildfire.
Mr Forder"s desire to keep the matter from being talked about was eminently futile, for Wally and Percy Wheatfield both knew all about it five minutes after Fisher major had discovered the absence of the "suspect."
By everybody except a very few infatuated persons, such as Yorke and Fisher minor, Rollitt"s flight was taken as conclusive evidence of his guilt.
"If he hadn"t done it, why shouldn"t he stay and face it?" asked Clapperton.
"The wonder to me is," sneered Dangle, "that he brazened it out as long as he did."
"Suppose you were in his shoes," said Yorke, "suspected by every one, with the evidence black against you, and Dangle in charge of the prosecution, how would you like it?"
"If I"m in charge of the prosecution," said Dangle, colouring up, "it"s because _you_, whose duty it was to see the matter put right, were doing all you could to shield the scoundrel."
"I did nothing because I didn"t believe him guilty, and I don"t yet,"
said the captain hotly; "and if you call him scoundrel again in my hearing, I"ll knock you down."
"Keep your temper," said Dangle, glad, all the same, that there were one or two fellows between him and the captain. "_You_ may not care about the credit of Fellsgarth. We do."
"You!" retorted Yorke, with such withering contempt that Dangle half wished he had left the matter alone.
"The thing is," said Ranger, "what is to be done!"
"Nothing," said Yorke. "Forder has gone to tell the doctor all about it. They"ll take it into their own hands to hunt him down--perhaps with Dangle"s a.s.sistance. All we"ve got to do is--"
Here Fullerton interrupted--
"--is to say all the evil we can about a fellow who is down and can"t defend himself."
"What"s the matter with Fullerton?" said Clapperton, with a sneer; "surely he"s not become one of Rollitt"s champions?"
"If it matters specially to you what I think," said Fullerton, "I don"t believe a word of your precious story. First of all, Fisher major"s such a fool at accounts that it"s not at all certain the money is lost; secondly, Dangle is the accuser; thirdly, Rollitt is the accused; fourthly, because if a similar charge were made against me, I should certainly disappear."
"Ha, ha!" snarled Brinkman, "they"ve got hold of poor Fullerton, have they? I wish them joy of him."
"Thanks very much," said Fullerton; "I don"t intend to desert the dear Moderns. You will have a splendid chance of taking it out of me for daring to believe somebody innocent that you think guilty. I shall be happy to see any three of you, whenever you like, I can hit out as well as young Corder, so I hope Brinkman won"t come. But Dangle now, or even Clapperton, I shall be charmed to see. It"s really their duty as prefects to suppress any one who dares have an opinion of his own. I simply long to be suppressed!"
This astounding revolt for the time being diverted attention from the topic of the hour. The laughter with which it was greeted by the Cla.s.sics present did not tend to add to the comfort of Clapperton, Brinkman, and Dangle, who very shortly discovered that it was time to go to their own house.
"Wait for me," said Fullerton; "I"m coming too."
And, to their disgust, the rebel strolled along, with his hands in his pockets, in their company, whistling pleasantly to himself and absolutely ignoring their unfriendly att.i.tude.
Meanwhile the question, "Where is Rollitt?" continued to exercise Fellsgarth, from the head-master down to the junior f.a.g. Bit by bit all that could be found out about his movements came to light. His study was visited by the masters. It disclosed the usual state of grime and confusion. His fishing-rod and tackle were there. There had been no attempt to pack his few belongings, which lay scattered about in dismal disorder. The photograph of the pleasant, homely-looking woman on the mantelpiece, with the inscription below, "Alfred, from Mother," stood in its usual place. His Aristophanes lay open in the window-sill at the place for to-day"s lesson. Everything betokened an abrupt and hasty departure.
Among the papers on his table was a fragment of some accounts recording the outlay of little more than a few pence a week since the beginning of the term.
When inquiry came to be made, it was found that he was last seen after afternoon cla.s.s yesterday, when he unexpectedly went to the School shop and purchased from the attendant there (who had been put in charge of that establishment during the indisposition of the managing directors) half a dozen Abernethy biscuits.
The matron at Wakefield"s remembered that only a day or two ago a parcel had arrived for Rollitt--another unusual circ.u.mstance--containing a ham.
Of this possession no sign was now to be found in his study.
The inference from all these circ.u.mstances of course was, that however abruptly he had departed, he had not gone home, but somewhere where food would not be easy to procure in the ordinary way.
Messengers were sent to Penchurch to acquaint the police and inquire at various places on the way for news of the missing boy. But no one had seen him "out of touch" for several days--since his last fishing expedition.
His home address was of course on the School books, and thither a telegram was sent. But as the place was beyond the region of the wire, no reply came for a day, when in answer to the doctor"s inquiry if the wanderer had returned home, there came an abrupt "No."
Meanwhile the doctor had had another conference with the seniors of both houses, and inquired with every sign of dissatisfaction into the merits of the suspicions which were the apparent cause of Rollitt"s disappearance.
To his demand why the matter was not reported to him, Yorke replied that as far as he and Fisher major were concerned they did not suspect Rollitt, and therefore had had nothing to report. The Modern seniors, on the other hand, put in the plea that they had looked to the Cla.s.sics to take the matter up, and when they declined to do so, had reported the matter to Mr Forder.
Then the doctor went into the particulars of Dangle"s feud with the missing boy, much to the embarra.s.sment of the former.
"He insulted you by turning you out of Mr Wakefield"s house, you say.
Why were you there?"
"I went to speak to some juniors."
"About what?"
"Clapperton wanted them--"
"No, I didn"t. You went--" interrupted Clapperton.
"Silence, Clapperton. What were they wanted for, Dangle?"
"They had cheated at Elections."
"What was your object, then?"