"No, I did not!" fearlessly replied little Channing.

"If he doesn't know, he suspects," persisted Hurst. "Come, Miss
Channing."

"We don't declare things upon suspicion, do we, Mr. Gaunt?" appealed
Charles. "I may suspect one; Hurst may suspect another; Bywater said he
suspected two; the whole school may be suspicious, one of another.
Where's the use of that?"

"It is of no use," decided Gaunt. "You say you did not see the surplice
damaged?"

"I did not; upon my word of honour."

"That's enough," said Gaunt. "Depend upon it, the fellow, while he was
at it, took precious good precautions against being seen. When he gets
found out, he had better not come within reach of the seniors; I warn
him of that: they might not leave him a head on his shoulders, or a
tooth in his mouth."

"Suppose it should turn out to have been a senior, Mr. Gaunt?" spoke
Bywater.

"Suppose you should turn out to be an everlasting big donkey?" retorted
the senior boy.