"That's all right," said Loman, evidently determined not to notice the snubbing bestowed on him. "Mine wasn't a very loud score, was it? Seventy! I was surprised it was as much!" The two Sixth boys looked at him inquiringly. "The fact is, I never tried to answer," said Loman, "and for a very good reason. I suppose you know." "No--what?" asked they. "Haven't you heard? I thought it was all over the school. You heard about the Doctor missing a paper?" "Yes; what about it? Was it found, or lost, or what?" "No one owned to having taken it, that's certain." "I should hope not. Not the sort of thing any fellow here would do." "That's just what I should have thought," said Loman. "But the fact is, some one did take it--you can guess who--and you don't suppose I was going to be fool enough to take any trouble over my answers when I knew one of the other fellows had had the paper in his pocket a day and a half before the exam." And here Loman laughed. "Do you mean to say Greenfield stole it?" exclaimed both the friends at once, in utter astonishment. "I mean to say you're not far wrong. But you'd better ask some of the Fifth. It's all come out, I hear, there." "And you knew of it before the exam?" "I guessed it; or you may be sure I'd have taken a little more trouble over my answers. It wasn't much use as it was." Loman had the satisfaction of seeing the two Sixth boys depart in amazement, and the still greater satisfaction of seeing them a little later in confidential conference with Simon, from whom he guessed pretty correctly they would be sure to get a full "all-round" narrative of the whole affair. "I'm all right with the Sixth, anyhow," muttered he to himself. "I only wish I was as right with that blackguard Cripps." "That blackguard Cripps" had, next afternoon, the peculiar pleasure of welcoming his young friend and patron under the hospitable roof of the Cockchafer. As usual, he was as surprised as he was delighted at the honour done him, and could not imagine for the life of him to what he was indebted for so charming a condescension. In other words, he left Loman to open the business as best he could. "I promised to come and tell you about the exam, didn't I?" "Eh? Oh, yes, to be sure. That was last Saturday. Upon my word, I'd quite forgotten." Of course Loman knew this was false; but he had to look pleasant and answer, "Well, you see, my memory was better than yours." "Right you are, young captain. And what about this here fifty-pound dicky-bird you've been after?" "The Nightingale?" said Loman. "Oh, it's all right, of course; but the fact is, I forgot when I promised you the money now, that of course they--" "Oh, come now, none of your gammon," said Mr Cripps, angrily; "a promise is a promise, and I expect young swells as makes them to keep them, mind that." "Oh, of course I'll keep them, Cripps. What I was saying was that they don't pay you the money till the beginning of each year."