"Quite right," said Pip approvingly. "Pay first, and then we can go for him without prejudice. Have you got the money?" The boy shook his head dismally. "About ten pounds," he said. "I could raise a couple of fivers, perhaps," said Pip. "But in any case your best plan is to go straight and make a clean breast of it to your Governor." "Pip, I couldn't! He's fearfully simple and straight in these things. It would break him up." "I know him well enough," said Pip, "to be quite certain that you ought to tell him. He can't eat you, and he'll respect your pluck in being frank about it. If he finds out by accident, though--" "You are right, Pip. I'll do it." "Good! If you'll do that, I'll promise you something in return. I'll give Master Cullyngham such a quarter of an hour of his own previous history that he'll leave the place to-morrow morning and never darken its doors, or any other doors I care to specify, again. Now, you write straight off to your Governor; or, better still, make an excuse and run up to town and see him to-morrow, and leave me to tackle friend Cullyngham. I think I shall enjoy my interview more than you will." * * * * * Mr. Rupert Cullyngham had divested himself of his dress-coat, and was engaged in unfastening a neatly tied white tie, when his bedroom door opened and Pip came in. "Cullyngham," he said, in a matter-of-fact tone, "you must leave this house to-morrow morning." Cullyngham turned and surveyed his visitor for a moment with some amusement. Then he said,-- "Certainly! No idea you had bought the place. Can I have a trap, or must I walk?" Pip did not rise to the level of this airy badinage. On the contrary, he was brusque and rude. "You will get your cheque all right," he continued. "It will reach you on Sunday morning, so there's no need to hang on here for it." "May I inquire--_what_ cheque?" "The money young Gresley owes you." Cullyngham whistled softly. "So it's to that young fool that I owe the honour of this visit," he said. "Look here, old chap--" Pip broke in. "Thanks, I can do without that. Let us have no rotten pretence on the subject. To be quite frank, I was rather surprised to find you in this house at all--so was Raven Innes. However, we decided not to make any remark--" "That _was_ decent of you!" Pip continued, meditatively-- "Chell had probably asked you here on your cricket reputation. However, as I find you can't refrain from behaving like the cad you are, even when asked down to a house like this, I have decided to take things in hand myself. You will make an excuse to the Chells in the morning, and go straight away back--" Cullyngham, who had been restraining himself with difficulty, turned suddenly round and advanced upon him. "Get out!" he said, his eyes blazing. Pip, who was lounging on the arm of a chair, never stirred.