“Don’t make too much row, for goodness sake. All the servants’ll have gone to bed. You’ll see the window of my room. It’s just above the porch. It’ll be the only one lighted up. Heave a pebble at it, and I’ll come down.” “So will the glass--with a run, I expect. Still, I’ll try to do as little damage as possible. After all, I needn’t throw a brick.” “You _will_ turn up, won’t you?” “Nothing shall stop me.” “Good man.” As Wyatt was turning away, a sudden compunction seized upon Neville-Smith. He called him back. “I say, you don’t think it’s too risky, do you? I mean, you always are breaking out at night, aren’t you? I don’t want to get you into a row.” “Oh, that’s all right,” said Wyatt. “Don’t you worry about me. I should have gone out anyhow to-night.” CHAPTER XXIII A SURPRISE FOR MR. APPLEBY “You may not know it,” said Wyatt to Mike in the dormitory that night, “but this is the maddest, merriest day of all the glad New Year.” Mike could not help thinking that for himself it was the very reverse, but he did not state his view of the case. “What’s up?” he asked. “Neville-Smith’s giving a meal at his place in honour of his getting his first. I understand the preparations are on a scale of the utmost magnificence. No expense has been spared. Ginger-beer will flow like water. The oldest cask of lemonade has been broached; and a sardine is roasting whole in the market-place.” “Are you going?” “If I can tear myself away from your delightful society. The kick-off is fixed for eleven sharp. I am to stand underneath his window and heave bricks till something happens. I don’t know if he keeps a dog. If so, I shall probably get bitten to the bone.” “When are you going to start?” “About five minutes after Wain has been round the dormitories to see that all’s well. That ought to be somewhere about half-past ten.” “Don’t go getting caught.” “I shall do my little best not to be. Rather tricky work, though, getting back. I’ve got to climb two garden walls, and I shall probably be so full of Malvoisie that you’ll be able to hear it swishing about inside me. No catch steeple-chasing if you’re like that. They’ve no thought for people’s convenience here. Now at Bradford they’ve got studies on the ground floor, the windows looking out over the boundless prairie. No climbing or steeple-chasing needed at all. All you have to do is to open the window and step out. Still, we must make the best of things. Push us over a pinch of that tooth-powder of yours. I’ve used all mine.” Wyatt very seldom penetrated further than his own garden on the occasions when he roamed abroad at night. For cat-shooting the Wain spinneys were unsurpassed. There was one particular dustbin where one might be certain of flushing a covey any night; and the wall by the potting-shed was a feline club-house.