It was later than John’s accustomed hour for going to bed, when he left Haydock’s room that night. This was his only reason for hurrying over to Matthews, as he did, when he finally said good-night to the senior. At the end of the little corridor near John’s door a man who looked like a messenger of some kind stood peering out of the window at the lights in the Square. He must have been standing there a long time,--long enough to become convinced that the continual sound of footsteps in the entry did not necessarily announce the person for whom he was waiting,--for he turned to John only when he heard the jingle of his keys. “Rice?” he drawled, “J. D. Rice?” He gave John a note, and sauntered back to the window. The communication was from Billy. John read it there in the corridor under the gas jet:-- DEAR JOHNNY,--Please, as quickly as possible, procure all the money you can lay your hands on--two hundred dollars at the very least--and come bail me out. I have been arrested and compelled to languish among hostile strangers. The man with this note will guide you to the scene of my incarceration. Please hurry, because I wish to go home. BILLY. P. S. For Heaven’s sake get a move on. For a moment this document conveyed but little to John. He was obliged to read it a second time, and even then he stared appealingly at the messenger, who had turned and was eyeing him with feeble interest. “They got pinched, didn’t they?” said the man, sadly. “But what did he do? What’s happened?” John demanded. He was dazed; nothing he had ever seen or done in his life had prepared him for this. “Why, they got run in,” explained the man. “Here--you wait for me here.” The only thing John could think of just then was Haydock. “Or no--come into my room;” he unlocked the door and turned up the gas. “Be sure to wait,” he commanded, as he rushed out. Claverly was locked for the night; John remembered this after rattling in vain at the three doors. Then he called under Haydock’s window. The senior answered from the square of yellow light above. He was on the point of going out anyhow, he said, and would join John below. “Billy’s arrested! he’s in jail! What’ll I do?” John gasped breathlessly. He thrust the note at Haydock. “Read it.” Haydock struck a match in the shelter of a bay window and read. “Why, the only thing to do is to bail him out,” he laughed. “It’s horrid, not to say disgusting, to have to stay all night in a jail. How much money have you?” “I don’t know, five dollars, I think,” answered John. The darkness covered his astonishment at Haydock’s calmness under the circumstances. “I have thirty or forty myself, and I’ll evolve the rest somewhere.” “Do you think you can?” To John the idea was incredible.