He stood for a moment to survey the scene. All the dormitory doors were wide open; the sheet which had formed the stage curtain lay torn on the floor of No. 7; the beds in all the adjoining rooms were in the strangest positions; and half-extinguished wicks still smouldered in several of the sconces. Every boy was in bed, but the extraordinary way in which the bed clothes were huddled about told an unmistakeable tale. He glanced quickly round, but the moment he had passed into No. 8, he heard a run, and, turning, just caught sight of Upton’s figure vanishing into the darkness of the lavatory, towards the study stairs. He said not a word, but stalked hastily through all dormitories, again stopping at No. 7 on his return. He heard nothing but the deep snores of Duncan, and instantly fixed on him as a chief culprit. “Duncan!” No reply; but calm stertorous music from Duncan’s bed. “Duncan!” he said, still louder and more sternly, “you sleep soundly, sir, too soundly; get up directly,” and he laid his hand on the boy’s arm. “Get away, you old donkey,” said Duncan sleepily; “’t, aint time to get up yet. First bell hasn’t rung.” “Come, sir, this shamming will only increase your punishment;” but the imperturbable Duncan stretched himself lazily, gave a great yawn, and then awoke with such an admirably feigned start at seeing Dr. Rowlands, that Eric, who had been peeping at the scene from over his bed-clothes, burst into an irresistible explosion of laughter. Dr. Rowlands swung round on his heel--“What! Williams! get out of bed, sir, this instant.” Eric, forgetful of his disguise, sheepishly obeyed; but when he stood on the floor, he looked so odd in his crimson girdle and corked cheeks, with Dr. Rowlands surveying him in intense astonishment, that the scene became overpoweringly ludicrous to Duncan, who now in his turn was convulsed with a storm of laughter, faintly echoed in stifled titterings from other beds. “_Very_ good,” said Dr. Rowlands, now thoroughly angry, “you will hear of this to-morrow;” and he walked away with a heavy step, stopping at the lavatory door to restore the tin basin to its proper place, and then mounting to the studies. Standing in the passage into which the studies opened, he knocked at one of the doors, and told a boy to summon all their occupants at once to the library. Meanwhile, the dormitory-boys were aghast, and as soon as they heard the doctor’s retreating footsteps, began flocking in the dark to No. 7, not daring to relight their candles. “Good gracious!” said Attlay, “only to think of Rowley appearing! How could he have twigged?” “He must have seen our lights in the window as he came home,” said Eric. “I say, what a row that tin-basin dodge of yours made! What a rage the Doctor will be in to-morrow?” “Won’t you just catch it!” said Barker to Duncan, but intending the remark for Eric.