Hurst and the rest stole round the cloisters, and out at the south
door. Hamish and Arthur followed, more leisurely, and less silently.
Ketch came up.

"Who's this here, a-haunting the cloisters at this time o' night? Who
be you, I ask?"

"The cloisters are free until they are closed, Ketch," cried Hamish.

"Nobody haven't no right to pass through 'em at this hour, except the
clergy theirselves," grumbled the porter. "We shall have them boys
a-playing in 'em at dark, next."

"You should close them earlier, if you want to keep them empty,"
returned Hamish. "Why don't you close them at three in the afternoon?"

The porter growled. He knew that he did not dare to close them before
dusk, almost dark, and he knew that Hamish knew it too; and therefore
he looked upon the remark as a quiet bit of sarcasm. "I wish the dean
'ud give me leave to shut them boys out of 'em," he exclaimed. "It 'ud
be a jovial day for me!"

Hamish and Arthur passed out, wishing him good night. He did not reply
to it, but banged the gate on their heels, locked it, and turned to
retrace his steps through the cloisters. The college boys, who had
hidden themselves from his view, came forward again.

"He has got off scot-free to-night, but perhaps he won't do so
to-morrow," cried Bywater.