"Well," growled Dobson, shaking himself free, "it is no good to kick up a row about it. No harm is done, only he has managed to get clear." "But how did you do it? I cannot think how it was." "Easy enough. I had five pounds that my aunt sent me. I am a favourite with her"--and Dobson smiled complacently. "Well, I had that in my pocket, and when you handed me over the other note, after I picked up his pocket-book, I must have put the wrong note in, that is all." "But what did you do with the one I gave you?" demanded Elgert quickly. "Changed it up in the town." "Changed it!" he gasped. "You idiot! Don't you know that it can be traced by its number? I suppose that you wrote your name on the back?" "Of course I did," said Dobson, looking very scared. "Yes, and that note will come back to you, perhaps brought by a constable. You have done a nice thing!" "But I didn't steal it--you stole it!" cried Dobson, in alarm. And Elgert struck him a savage blow. "So you would turn sneak, would you? Well, there is no proof that I stole it. There is plenty of proof that you had it, changed it, and put your note into the pocket-book. You will suffer, and not me." "What--what can we d-d-do?" gasped Dobson, his knees knocking together. And Elgert answered-- "We must go up into town to the place where you changed it. We must get that note back if we can, even if we have to give double for it. There is no telling what will happen, unless we get hold of it." CHAPTER XVIII WHERE THE BANKNOTE WENT Brown's cake-shop was out of bounds for the younger boys at Marlthorpe College. The boys in the upper classes might go there if they chose; but as it was over a mile from the school, the Head had wisely determined that it was too far away for the little lads to be continually running there to spend their pocket-money; especially as there was a very clean and nice shop in the village close by--a shop kept by a kindly old dame, where Dr. Beverly was certain the boys could not come to harm. It was quite as good a shop as Brown's; but, because it was within bounds, and because the lads were forbidden to go to the town, it was not patronized as it should have been; while Brown's received many a secret visit. It was a shame that the upper fellows might go there, when the juniors might not! It was the cause of heartburnings. There were no cakes in all the world like those which Brown's sold! The chief inducement to get promoted was that Brown's might be visited freely. Of course, it was wrong and foolish; but then, boys are apt to think wrongly and do foolishly; and, therefore, the reason of two small mortals scuttling along the road, and dodging into Great Stow, with eyes ever on the alert for monitors and masters, was not hard to seek--their destination was, of course, Brown's.