Henry considered the matter for a moment. At last he turned and seized the other by the wrist. “Very well,” said he, “I’m going to fetch Coles out of it.” “_Fetch him out?_” “Certainly.” “How?” “By going in.” “But that won’t fetch him out—unless you mean he’ll chase you.” “_Chase me?_” Henry’s dignity appeared to be somewhat offended. “Chase _me_?” he repeated. “Of course not. I mean to go in and tell him Pointon’s waiting for him at the Head’s room. By the time he gets there the other chaps will be inside and when Coles says afterwards: ‘Did you want me?’ Pointon will say: ‘Of course I did. I want every fellow in the school.’ He won’t dare to make a shindy. It’ll look pretty bad if he’s noticed to be the only one absent out of Rouse’s house.... And then,” he added, “as soon as Coles has gone _you_ can go. Do you get me?” Bobbie cheered up. He glanced at Henry admiringly. “Do you mean it?” said he. “But how will you get in?” “That’s easy. You’ll just go and knock at the door, and when he shouts out you’ll say there’s a chap come with a message from Pointon.” Bobbie considered this plan with sparkling eyes. The greyness of the immediate future began to fade swiftly away. “Go on,” said Henry. “It’s all right. If there’s any difficulty afterwards I’ll see Terence and he’ll square it. I’m speaking the truth anyway. Pointon does want him. He wants everybody. He said so. I’m just going to remind Coles about it, that’s all, only I shall put it a bit differently, of course.” “Supposing he kicks you,” submitted Bobbie. “It might hurt.” This time Henry looked really annoyed. “Don’t be so stupid,” said he. “You go and knock at the door.” Bobbie needed no second bidding. He moved forward and knocked loudly. “Hullo!” cried Coles. “What is it? Who’s there?” There was distinct vexation in his voice. For one moment Henry quailed. There was no doubt whatever that Coles was the best drop-kick in the school. Next moment Bobbie had explained. There was a dramatic pause. Henry trembled with excitement. At last he heard movement inside the study and Coles’ voice saying: “All right, send him in.” The moment had come. Henry set his teeth, and with one hand at his coat-tails surreptitiously ready to protect himself and every nerve alert, he walked stiffly to the door and went in. As he stood there facing Coles and Coles’ cronies he remembered the day when he had been a fag himself. Everything was so oddly similar. He could just imagine Slade in Coles’ chair and Black standing watchfully beside him. Things had not changed very much. History seemed likely to repeat itself. He did not know that his eyes looked wide and terror-stricken with the strain of nervous tension. He was not really afraid. Nobody likes being kicked, of course, but with Henry it was the dread uncertainty of not knowing whether he was going to be or not that was so upsetting. Coles rose to his feet. “Pointon wants _me_?” “Yes.” “Is that all he said ... he just wanted me?”