"Suppose," said Shoeblossom to Barry, as they were walking over toschool on the morning following the day on which Milton's study hadpassed through the hands of the League, "suppose you thought somebodyhad done something, but you weren't quite certain who, but you knew itwas some one, what would you do?""What on _earth_ do you mean?" inquired Barry.

　　"I was trying to make an A.B. case of it," explained Shoeblossom.

　　"What's an A.B. case?""I don't know," admitted Shoeblossom, frankly. "But it comes in a bookof Stevenson's. I think it must mean a sort of case where you calleveryone A. and B. and don't tell their names.""Well, go ahead.""It's about Milton's study.""What! what about it?""Well, you see, the night it was ragged I was sitting in my study witha dark lantern--""What!"Shoeblossom proceeded to relate the moving narrative of hisnight-walking adventure. He dwelt movingly on his state of mindwhen standing behind the door, waiting for Mr Seymour to come inand find him. He related with appropriate force the hair-raisingepisode of the weird white figure. And then he came to the conclusionshe had since drawn (in calmer moments) from that apparition's movements.

　　"You see," he said, "I saw it coming out of Milton's study, and thatmust have been about the time the study was ragged. And it went intoRigby's dorm. So it must have been a chap in that dorm, who did it."Shoeblossom was quite clever at rare intervals. Even Barry, whosebelief in his sanity was of the smallest, was compelled to admit thathere, at any rate, he was talking sense.

　　"What would you do?" asked Shoeblossom.

　　"Tell Milton, of course," said Barry.

　　"But he'd give me beans for being out of the dorm, after lights-out."This was a distinct point to be considered. The attitude of Barrytowards Milton was different from that of Shoeblossom. Barry regardedhim--through having played with him in important matches--as a goodsort of fellow who had always behaved decently to him. Leather-Twigg,on the other hand, looked on him with undisguised apprehension, as onein authority who would give him lines the first time he came intocontact with him, and cane him if he ever did it again. He had adecided disinclination to see Milton on any pretext whatever.

　　"Suppose I tell him?" suggested Barry.

　　"You'll keep my name dark?" said Shoeblossom, alarmed.

　　Barry said he would make an A.B. case of it.

　　After school he went to Milton's study, and found him still broodingover its departed glories.

　　"I say, Milton, can I speak to you for a second?""Hullo, Barry. Come in."Barry came in.

　　"I had forty-three photographs," began Milton, without preamble. "Alldestroyed. And I've no money to buy any more. I had seventeen of EdnaMay."Barry, feeling that he was expected to say something, said, "By Jove!