"What a pack of curs we all were," said Wraysford, almost as angry as his friend. "Hear, hear!" put in Stephen, an observation which had the effect of making the whole thing ridiculous and so restoring both the friends to their composure. "But, Noll, I say, old man," said Wraysford, presently, "of course you didn't intend it, but if you meant to make every one believe you did it, you couldn't have gone on better than you did. I'm certain not half the fellows would have believed Simon if you hadn't--" "Made such an ass of myself," said Oliver, laughing. "Of course I can see now how it would all work in beautifully against me, and I'm certain I've myself to thank for the whole business." "Now, don't say that. Nothing can excuse the way all of us treated you, poor old boy. But, thank goodness, it's all right now. I'll let them know--" "Now, Wray, that's just what I won't have you do. You must not say a word to them about it, or, seriously, I'll be in a great rage. If they can't think well of me of their own accord, I won't have them do it for anybody else's, so there." "But, Noll, old man--" "Upon my word, Wray, I mean what I say. Not a word to anybody." "Do you mean to say you intend to live at Coventry all your life?" "It's not Coventry now, is it, Stee, old boy?" said Oliver, with a bright smile. "And now, Wray," said he, "I want to know how you got on in the exam to-day. You were going ahead furiously, it seemed to me." "Yes, but wasn't doing much good, I'm afraid. How have you done?" "Pretty well; but I hadn't time to touch the last question." "I knew, as soon as I saw you were entered for the exam," said Wraysford, "we had all been taking you up wrong. I can guess now why you went in for it." "Well, it struck me it might be a way of putting myself right with the fellows if I won; but I'm half afraid I won't win, and then their highnesses will be doubly sure of my villainy!" "I know you will win," said Wraysford. "If I do I shall feel an awful blackguard, for you would have been certain of it." "I'm not so very sure. However, I think I could have beaten Loman." "He seemed out of it, quite. Do you know I think that fellow is going to the dogs altogether?" "Pity," said Wraysford, "if he is, but it does look like it." CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. LOMAN IN LUCK AGAIN. It certainly did look as if Loman was going to the dogs. And any one able to see and know all that was going on in his mind would have found out that he was a good deal nearer "the dogs" even than he seemed. On the evening after the examination he received a note from Cripps-- brought up in a most barefaced way by one of the potboys at the Cockchafer--requesting the pleasure of Mr Loman's company at that pleasant spot _immediately_, to talk over business! "Why didn't he send it by post?" demanded Loman, angrily, of the disreputable messenger. "Don't you know if you were seen up here there'd be a row?"