We scuttled up the passage and dived through the first door that presented itself, closing and locking it behind us. On turning up the electric light we found ourselves in a large deserted room, occupied by two bagatelle tables. It was unfortunately lighted from the roof, which put escape by the window out of the question. However, at the far end we spied another door. Through this we rushed, into what appeared to be a recreation-room, occupied solely by two spectacled gentlemen immersed in a game of chess. Their surprise when three total strangers, two in unusual dress and all in an obvious hurry, invaded the privacy of their apartment, only to make a hasty and undignified exit by the window, must have been considerable, but we did not stay to observe it. IV Three weeks later The Freak came up to town for his Easter vacation, and dined with me at my club, and I heard the end of the tale. Nothing very dreadful had happened, it appeared. Mr. Wickham, having laconically accepted full responsibility for the riot in his rooms, had been gated at eight for the rest of the term. The fact that I had ordered the dinner was unknown to the Proctors, and the College cook had not enlightened them. The identity of the Marquis of Puddox, the Junior Egyptologist, and the Assistant Professor of Comparative Theology had never been discovered. "So your guilty secret, old thing," concluded Dicky, "is safe. And now I want to invite you to another function." "Thank you," I said gruffly, "but I think not. What sort of function is it this time?" "A wedding," replied Dicky unexpectedly. "Great Scott! Yours?" "No--The Jebber’s! He has grown quite a white man. The little homily which I took the liberty of delivering to him that evening, coupled with the very light sentence imposed, quite won his heart, it appears. He never leaves me now. Eats out of my hand. He is going down at the end of the May term like a sensible Jebber, and he is to be married to his girl in June." "The girl of the photograph?" "Yes. He has quite got over his wild-oats theories, and his girl now has him completely in hand. I have seen them together, and I know. They are very happy." My romantic friend sighed comfortably, and concluded:-- "I have promised to be best man." "You?" "Yes; he asked me, and one can’t decline. You are coming with me, fellow-sport, to represent the Senior Members of the University!" I went. No one ever refuses anything to The Freak. BOOK TWO A BLIND ALLEY CHAPTER IV TRAVELS WITH A FIRST RESERVE I arrived at Shotley Beauchamp (for Widgerley and the Sludyard Valley Branch) with my heart gradually settling into my boots.