the devil just after Number Five had cleared away a very pleasant
little brew (it cost them two and fourpence) and was settling down to
prep.

"Come in, Padre, come in," said Stalky, thrusting forward the best
chair. "We've only met you official-like these last ten days."

"You were under sentence," said the Reverend John. "I do not consort
with malefactors."

"Ah, but we're restored again," said McTurk. "Mr. Prout has
relented."

"Without a stain on our characters," said Beetle. "It was a painful
episode, Padre, most painful."

"Now, consider for a while, and perpend, _mes_enfants_. It is about
your characters that I've called to-night. In the language of the
schools, what the dooce _have_ you been up to in Mr. Prout's house?
It isn't anything to laugh over. He says that you so lowered the tone
of the house he had to pack you back to your studies. Is that true?"

"Every word of it, Padre."

"Don't be flippant, Turkey. Listen to me. I've told you very often
that no boys in the school have a greater influence for good or evil
than you have. You know I don't talk about ethics and moral codes,
because I don't believe that the young of the human animal realizes
what they mean for some years to come. All the same, I don't want to
think you've been perverting the juniors. Don't interrupt, Beetle.