"Does the man think he owns the house?" said Drummond. "Where is he?" "Coming up now. I hear them. What are you going to do? Stop them?" "What do you think? Of course I am. I'm not going to have any of Appleby's crew coming into Seymour's and ragging studies." "This ought to be worth seeing," said Linton. "Look on me as 'Charles, his friend'. I'll help if you want me, but it's your scene." Drummond opened his door just as Stanning and his myrmidons were passing it. "Hullo, Stanning," he said. Stanning turned. The punitive expedition stopped. "Do you want anything?" inquired Drummond politely. The members of the senior day-room who were with Stanning rallied round, silent and interested. This dramatic situation appealed to them. They had a passion for rows, and this looked distinctly promising. There was a pause. Stanning looked carefully at Drummond. Drummond looked carefully at Stanning. "I was going to see Sheen," said Stanning at length. "He isn't in." "Oh!" Another pause. "Was it anything special?" inquired Drummond pleasantly. The expedition edged a little forward. "No. Oh, no. Nothing special," said Stanning. The expedition looked disappointed. "Any message I can give him?" asked Drummond. "No, thanks," said Stanning. "Sure?" "Quite, thanks." "I don't think it's worth while your waiting. He may not be in for some time." "No, perhaps not. Thanks. So long." "So long." Stanning turned on his heel, and walked away down the passage. Drummond went back into his study, and shut the door. The expedition, deprived of its commander-in-chief, paused irresolutely outside. Then it followed its leader's example. There was peace in the passage. XV THE ROUT AT RIPTON On the Saturday following this episode, the first fifteen travelled to Ripton to play the return match with that school on its own ground. Of the two Ripton matches, the one played at Wrykyn was always the big event of the football year; but the other came next in importance, and the telegram which was despatched to the school shop at the close of the game was always awaited with anxiety. This year Wrykyn looked forward to the return match with a certain amount of apathy, due partly to the fact that the school was in a slack, unpatriotic state, and partly to the hammering the team had received in the previous term, when the Ripton centre three-quarters had run through and scored with monotonous regularity. "We're bound to get sat on," was the general verdict of the school.