"My men have taken those rascals off to the station, sir," he said. "It’s a good haul, and we couldn’t have got ’em if you gentlemen hadn’t helped. That being the case, I don’t feel like taking you to the station as well. Couldn’t you arrange matters, sir, with the gentleman at Dr Taplow’s surgery?" "Certainly, sergeant," said the red-haired one, who promptly approached the bearded man, Mr Deadwood following in his wake. "I say, you know, sir," said the red-haired one to the bearded man, "if we’ve done any damage we shall be glad to make it good, don’t you know. You don’t wish to take further proceedings, do you?" "It was a most unwarrantable intrusion," rejoined the bearded man, stiffly. "I admit it," said the red-haired student. "And we’re sorry," added Mr Deadwood, "--beastly, awfully sorry." Mr Deadwood accompanied this statement with a glance which was intended to indicate that if he (the bearded man) didn’t accept the red-haired one’s proposal, he (the bearded man) would get a jolly good punch in the nose from him (Mr Deadwood). The bearded man evidently interpreted the glance thus, for he replied: "Very well, I will see what damage has been done, and send you the bill." "Right O!" said the red-haired one. "My name’s Evans Evans, of Matt’s." "Matt’s!" cried the bearded man. "Why didn’t you tell me that before? I’m a Matt’s man!" "You didn’t look like a Matt’s man, you see," explained Mr Deadwood in his nice way. "But I am a Matt’s man," said he of the beard, "so I won’t send in any account." "Thanks. But if we’ve done any serious damage, we’ll pay for it. That’s only fair," responded the Welshman. Jim had joined the group. "Well," he said, "I hope you’ll all come along to my place now and have some of the old poison." "We will," said Mr Deadwood, with emphasis. "Come on, old cock," he added, linking his arm in the bearded man’s. "I believe you’re not a bad sort, in spite of your looks." The bearded man wisely submitted to being led off in this way, and the rest followed, Jim bringing up the rear with the Welshman. The stout sergeant’s friendliness had not been forgotten, for he arrived at the police-station the wealthier by half-a-sovereign. It was midnight before the students left Jim’s surgery, and by that time Jim and the bearded man were good friends, the latter having proved to be by no means a "bad sort." Mr Deadwood insisted on making a note of the bearded man’s natal day, as he said he would like to send him a birthday present. In parting, Mr Deadwood shook the bearded man warmly by the hand several times, wished him a merry, merry Christmas, and added that after all it was better to be healthy than handsome, and that he saw no reason why he (the bearded man) should not, therefore, be perfectly contented.