While Sheen had been interviewing Stanning, in study twelve, fartherdown the passage, Linton and his friend Dunstable, who was in Day'shouse, were discussing ways and means. Like Stanning, Dunstable haddemanded tea, and had been informed that there was none for him.

　　"Well, you are a bright specimen, aren't you?" said Dunstable, seatinghimself on the table which should have been groaning under the weightof cake and biscuits. "I should like to know where you expect to go to.

　　You lure me in here, and then have the cheek to tell me you haven't gotanything to eat. What have you done with it all?""There was half a cake--""Bring it on.""Young Menzies bagged it after the match yesterday. His brother camedown with the Oxford A team, and he had to give him tea in his study.

　　Then there were some biscuits--""What's the matter with biscuits? _They're_ all right. Bring themon. Biscuits forward. Show biscuits.""Menzies took them as well."Dunstable eyed him sorrowfully.

　　"You always were a bit of a maniac," he said, "but I never thought youwere quite such a complete gibberer as to let Menzies get away with allyour grub. Well, the only thing to do is to touch him for tea. He owesus one. Come on."They proceeded down the passage and stopped at the door of study three.

　　"Hullo!" said Menzies, as they entered.

　　"We've come to tea," said Dunstable. "Cut the satisfying sandwich. Let'ssee a little more of that hissing urn of yours, Menzies. Bustle about,and be the dashing host.""I wasn't expecting you.""I can't help your troubles," said Dunstable.

　　"I've not got anything. I was thinking of coming to you, Linton.""Where's that cake?""Finished. My brother simply walked into it.""Greed," said Dunstable unkindly, "seems to be the besetting sin of theMenzies'. Well, what are you going to do about it? I don't wish tothreaten, but I'm a demon when I'm roused. Being done out of my tea issure to rouse me. And owing to unfortunate accident of being stonilybroken, I can't go to the shop. You're responsible for the slump inprovisions, Menzies, and you must see us through this. What are yougoing to do about it?""Do either of you chaps know Sheen at all?""I don't," said Linton. "Not to speak to.""You can't expect us to know all your shady friends," said Dunstable.

　　"Why?""He's got a tea on this evening. If you knew him well enough, you mightborrow something from him. I met Herbert in the dinner-hour carrying inall sorts of things to his study. Still, if you don't know him--""Don't let a trifle of that sort stand in the way," said Dunstable.

　　"Which is his study?""Come on, Linton," said Dunstable. "Be a man, and lead the way. Go inas if he'd invited us. Ten to one he'll think he did, if you don'tspoil the thing by laughing.""What, invite ourselves to tea?" asked Linton, beginning to grasp theidea.