Wilton suggested something about Elgood being Whalley's fag. "Shame, Raven," said Kenrick; "why, what a suspicious fellow you must be; there's no ground whatever to suspect Elgood now." "I only want the fellow found out for the honour of the house," said Wilton, with a sheepish look at this third rebuff. "Oh, I forgot about that for the moment," said Charlie; "Whalley, please, you know the time, don't you, when the money was taken from your desk?" "Yes; it must have been between four and six, for I saw it safe at four, and it was gone when I came back after tea." "Then all right," said Charlie joyfully, "for at that very time, all of it, Elgood was in my brother's study with me, learning some lessons. Now then, is Elgood clear?" "As clear as noonday," shouted several of them, patting the poor child on the head. "And really, Charlie, we're all very much obliged to you," said Whalley, "for setting this matter straight. But now, as it _isn't_ Elgood, who _is_ the thief? We must all set ourselves to discover." "And we _shall_ discover," said Bliss; "he's probably here now. Who is it?" he asked, glancing round. "Well, whoever it is, I don't envy him his sensations at this minute." The meeting broke up, and Kenrick accompanied Whalley to his study to concert further measures. "Have you any suspicion at all about it, Whalley?" "Not the least. Have you? No. Well, then, what shall we do?" "Why the thief isn't likely to visit _your_ study again, Whalley; very likely he'll come to mine. Suppose we put a little marked money in the secret drawer. It's rather a joke to call it the _secret_ drawer, for there's no secret about it; anyhow, it's an open secret." "Very good; and then?" "Why, you know the money generally goes at one particular time on half-holidays. I'm afraid the rogue, whoever he is, has got a taste for it by this time, and will come to money like a fly to a jam-pot. Now, outside my room, a few yards off, is the shoe-cupboard; what if you and I, and a few others, agree to shut ourselves up there in turns, now and then, on half-holidays between roll-call and tea-time?" "I see," said Whalley; "well, it's horribly unpleasant, but I'll take my turn first. Isn't the door usually locked, though?" "Yes, but so much the better; we can easily get it left open, and the thief won't suspect an ambuscade. He _must_ be found out, for the sake of all the boys who are innocent and to wipe out the blot against the house." "All right; I'll ensconce myself there to-morrow. I say, Ken, isn't young Evson a capital fellow? how well he managed to clear Elgood, didn't he? I declare he taught us all a lesson." "Yes," said Kenrick; "he's his brother all over; just what Walter was when he came." "What, _you_ say that?" said Whalley, smiling and arching his eyebrows. "Indeed I do," said Kenrick, with some sadness; "I haven't always thought so, the more's the pity;" and he left the room with a sigh.