Going to his desk, he put on his spectacles, which then were worn astride
of the nose. In a minute he set on below them a second pair, and this we
knew to be a signal of coming violence. Then he stood up, and asked who had
written the opprobrious epithet on the wall. As no one replied, he asked
several in turn, but luckily chose the girls, thinking, perhaps, that they
would weakly betray the sinner. Soon he lost patience, and cried out he
would give a king's pound to know.

When he had said this over and over, I began to reflect that, if he had any
real idea of doing as he promised, a pound was a great sum, and to consider
what might be done with it in the way of marbles of Amsterdam, tops, and of
certain much-desired books, for now this latter temptation was upon me, as
it has been ever since. As I sat, and Dove thundered, I remembered how,
when one Stacy, with an oath, assured my father that his word was as good
as his bond, my parent said dryly that this equality left him free to
choose, and he would prefer his bond. I saw no way to what was for me the
mysterious security of a bond, but I did conceive of some need to stiffen
the promise Dove had made before I faced the penalty.

Upon this I held up a hand, and the master cried, "What is it?"

I said, "Master, if a boy should tell thee wouldst thou surely give a
pound?"

At this a lad called "Shame!" thinking I was a telltale.

When Dove called silence and renewed his pledge, I, overbold, said,
"Master, I did it, and now wilt thou please to give me a pound--a king's
pound?"