opinion that he could be tamed."

And he went his way, having maintained a form-master's inalienable
privilege of being in the right.

* * * * *

In the prefects' room, Comus busied himself with the exact position
of a chair planted out in the middle of the floor.

"I think everything's ready," he said.

Rutley glanced at the clock with the air of a Roman elegant in the
Circus, languidly awaiting the introduction of an expected
Christian to an expectant tiger.

"The kid is due in two minutes," he said.

"He'd jolly well better not be late," said Comus.

Comus had gone through the mill of many scorching castigations in
his earlier school days, and was able to appreciate to the last
ounce the panic that must be now possessing his foredoomed victim,
probably at this moment hovering miserably outside the door. After
all, that was part of the fun of the thing, and most things have
their amusing side if one knows where to look for it.

There was a knock at the door, and Lancelot entered in response to
a hearty friendly summons to "come in."