Mr. Connover lived in Number 21 West Hall, and thither Wattles made his way. His knock on the door brought a faint invitation to enter, and when he had done so a voice proceeding from the bathroom called, “Make yourself at home. I’ll be out in a minute.” Wattles sat down in a chair, placed his derby crosswise on his knees and placed a hand on each end of the brim, quite as though he feared a strong gust of wind might whisk the precious hat away. The minute became several minutes, and then the baseball coach emerged from the bedroom, tying the cords of his bath-robe and looking very clean and cheerful. “Ah, it’s Wattles,” he said. “Yes, sir.” Wattles arose to make the admission. “Well, sit down. What can I do for you? Or, I suppose, Mr. Deane.” “I took the liberty of coming on my own account, sir,” replied Wattles a trifle nervously. “Oh! Well, glad to see you. Just what――ah――” “Mr. Connover, I witnessed the game this afternoon, and I saw how things are going. Our infield, sir, is not――” Wattles hesitated and shook his head gently――“is not what it should be.” Steve looked distinctly surprised. “I didn’t know you were a fan, Wattles. However, what you say is absolutely true. Our infield leaves much to be desired. Or it did this afternoon.” “Yes, sir, and that’s why I took the liberty of coming. I’d like to speak to you about Mr. Tom, sir.” “Who’s Mr. Tom, Wattles?” “Mr. Kemble, sir, I should say.” “Oh, I see. Well, frankly, Wattles, I wouldn’t bother. That incident is closed. I don’t think there is anything you could say that would help Kemble to get his position back, and that, I imagine, is what you are here for. I appreciate your interest, Wattles, but really it’s no good.” “Very well, sir. Then may I tell you what I learned about the young gentleman simply as a――simply as a matter of interest? That is, sir, if I’m not taking your time from more important affairs.” “That part’s all right. I’ve nothing to do until supper time, but―― Oh, all right, Wattles, shoot!” So Wattles shot. He made rather a long story of it, choosing his words very carefully as was proper when conversing with a member of the faculty. And when he had finally finished Mr. Connover asked: “Wattles, are you quite sure you’ve got that right?” “Oh, absolutely, sir. I was in Mr. Loring’s room when Mr. Tom told about it. The facts are just as I’ve stated them, sir.” “Hm.” Mr. Connover shook his head in smiling exasperation. “It would have been a lot simpler if you hadn’t told me this, Wattles. Of course, I didn’t know that Kemble had taken up arms on my account, and I’ll not deny that it makes a difference in my personal feelings toward the boy. But, Wattles, it doesn’t affect the fact that Kemble disobeyed the regulations flagrantly. I was obliged to discipline him, and even so I let him off a good deal easier than I might have――possibly should have! The deuce of it is that, having learned this, I’m bound to feel rather a blighter for having punished him!”