The King of the School, or, Who will Win? — page 66: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

60 nai ame ow at THE KING OF THE SCHOOL; OR, WHO WILL WIN? CHAPTER XVI. TWO SCOUNDRELS. BAYNES having declined to have any- thing to do with the boat-race, went, as we have already hinted, to hear the latest news about betting. He took his way towards a billiard- room, to which the reader has been already introduced, hoping there to see Captain Robinson, who had sent two or three verysharp letters lately respect- ing a certain debt of honour—or, as we imagine, dishonour. He had not got very far on his journey before he met two girls whose faces he remembered. They were Kate and Lizzie Conway. As they passed he heard them speak of a boat-race. “Ah,” he muttered, “this King -of the School, as they call him, cannot even row a friendly match but he must have some foolish milliner girl to look on and admire.” For some seconds he thought of going back to put the doctor on his guard. “ But that would betray me, though,” he thought after a time. “ Besides, if he speaks to these girls, the doctor will be safe to see.” Onreaching the billiard-rooms, Baynes found the captain alone. Chalkey, the marker, had gone out, and the gallant officer, being left in possession, was practising a wonderful screw of his own invention. As soon as Baynes entered, he laid down his cue. “So you have come at last, Mr. Baynes,” he said. “Yes, captain. I want to make my book all right, so I thought I would come down and ask if you had heard anything new.” “Cool, *pon my word.” ‘“‘ Extremely. What is the use of exciting one’s-self this hot weather ?” “ Mr. Baynes, have you brought any money with you ?” “¢ A few shillings !” “ Have you forgotten how much you owes me ?” The captain’s grammar was, as we have already hinted, very defective. “T have not.” “When do you mean to stump up ?” ‘As soon as I have the money to spare.” | | “Hell and furies! I shall be com- pelled to expose you !” Baynes, who had been rehearsing a certain line of conduct to himself dur- ing his walk, simply gave another of his cool smiles. | ‘You may expose as much as you like, Captain Robinson !” “Tf I let your father and Doctor Whackley know, the results won't fit you, not exactly, my boy !” | ‘Suppose I have already made my peace with them, have explained all, and have been forgiven !” | “Why then : “Why, then, Captain Robinson, if you behaved rudely in any way, I should be compelled to explain to the police that you are simply a discharged soldier, and that your businessin Ballsburyis merely to swindle as many of the foolish in- habitants as possible |” The captain grew pale even to the roots of his whiskers. However, suddenly plucking up courage, he said— “Since you have told so much, and know so much more, I may as well tell all I know.” Ringing the bell, he ordered pen, ink, paper, and envelopes. aynes stood looking on very cooll while the captain naninenned to write but when he saw one letter finished and CO DOC (CO i