"I thought so. Now you can get out. If you see Spencer, send him here." Spencer, curiously enough, was just outside the door. So close to it, indeed, that he almost tumbled in when MacPherson opened it. "Go and fetch Walton," said Kennedy. Spencer dashed off delightedly, and in a couple of minutes Walton appeared. He walked in with an air of subdued defiance, and slammed the door. "Don't bang the door like that," said Kennedy. "Why didn't you turn out today?" "I was kept in." "Couldn't you get out in time to play?" "No." "When did you get out?" "Six." "Not before?" "I said six." "Then how did you manage to go down town--without leave, by the way, but that's a detail--at half-past five?" "All right," said Walton; "better call me a liar." "Good suggestion," said Kennedy, cheerfully; "I will." "It's all very well," said Walton. "You know jolly well you can say anything you like. I can't do anything to you. You'd have me up before the prefects." "Not a bit of it. This is a private affair between ourselves. I'm not going to drag the prefects into it. You seem to want to make this house worse than it is. I want to make it more or less decent. We can't both have what we want." There was a pause. "When would it be convenient for you to be touched up before the whole house?" inquired Kennedy, pleasantly. "What?" "Well, you see, it seems the only thing. I must take it out of some one for this house-match business, and you started it. Will tonight suit you, after supper?" "You'll get it hot if you try to touch me." "We'll see." "You'd funk taking me on in a scrap," said Walton. "Would I? As a matter of fact, a scrap would suit me just as well. Better. Are you ready now?" "Quite, thanks," sneered Walton. "I've knocked you out before, and I'll do it again." "Oh, then it was you that night at camp? I thought so. I spotted your style. Hitting a chap when he wasn't ready, you know, and so on. Now, if you'll wait a minute, I'll send across to Blackburn's for Silver. I told him I should probably want him as a time-keeper tonight." "What do you want with Silver. Why won't Perry do?" "Thanks, I'm afraid Perry's time-keeping wouldn't be impartial enough. Silver, I think, if you don't mind." Spencer was summoned once more, and despatched to Blackburn's. He returned with Jimmy. "Come in, Jimmy," said Kennedy. "Run away, Spencer. Walton and I are just going to settle a point of order which has arisen, Jimmy. Will you hold the watch? We ought just to have time before tea." "Where?" asked Silver. "My dormitory would be the best place. We can move the beds. I'll go and get the keys." Kennedy's dormitory was the largest in the house. After the beds had been moved back, there was a space in the middle of fifteen feet one way, and twelve the other--not a large ring, but large enough for two fighters who meant business. Walton took off his coat, waistcoat, and shirt. Kennedy, who was still in football clothes, removed his blazer.