dealings with; but, for certain, they have sperited away them rusty
keys what did the mischief, without so much as putting one o' their
noses inside my lodge. I placed 'em safe in the knife-box last night,
and they're gone this morning. I hope, sir, you'll punish them as they
deserve. I am nothing, of course. If they had locked me up, and kept me
there till I was worn to a skeleton, it might be thought light of; but
his lordship, the bishop"--bowing sideways to the prelate--"was a
sufferer by their wickedness."

"To be sure I was," said the bishop, in a grave tone, but with a
twinkle in his eye; "and therefore the complaint to Mr. Pye must be
preferred by me, Ketch. We will talk of it when I have leisure," he
added to Mr. Pye, with a pleasant nod, as he went through the palace
gates.

The head-master bowed to the bishop, and walked away, leaving Ketch on
the growl.

Meanwhile, Bywater, flying through the cloisters, came upon Hurst, and
two or three more of the conspirators. The time was between nine and
ten o'clock. The boys had been home for breakfast after early school,
and were now reassembling, but they did not go into school until a
quarter before ten.

"He is such a glorious old trump, that bishop!" burst forth Bywater.
"He knows all about it, and is not going to put us up for punishment.
Let's cut round to the palace gates and cheer him."

"Knows that it was us!" echoed the startled boys. "How did it come out
to him?" asked Hurst.