"It's a jolly good job that row about Bickers came on when it did. ... Nobody wants to find the chap out now, so your particular is all serene up to now, and I don't mean to drip and spoil his game."
What could this mean except that Arthur, somehow or other, knew a secret respecting the Bickers affair which he was keeping to himself, presumably in the interests of Railsford? Could this mysterious hint have any connection with the false rumour which had reached Bickers and magnified itself in his mind to such an uncomfortable extent? Railsford resolved to delight the heart of his young relative by a friendly visit, and make a reconnaissance of the position. He had a very good pretext in the anxious solicitude expressed in Daisy's letter for the health and appetite of her love-tossed brother. He would make it his business to inquire how the sufferer did.
Waiting, therefore, until a preternatural stillness in the room above assured him that Dig was out of the way, the Master of the Shell went up-stairs and ushered himself into Arthur's study.
"Hard at work, I see," said Railsford cheerily. "How are you getting on?"
"All serene, thanks," replied Arthur. "That is, not very well."
"Have you stuck fast in your translations? Let me look."
"Oh no. I'm not doing my exercise," said Arthur, in alarm. "I'm only looking up some words. Do you want to see Dig? He's gone to Wake's room."
"No, I came to see you. I heard you'd been out of sorts. Are you all right now? Was it the sports knocked you up?"
"No--that is, yes, they did a bit, I think," said Arthur. It was the sports which had done it, though not in the way "Marky" fancied.
"Well, we mustn't have you laid up, must we? We want you for the Swift Scholarship, you know."
"Oh, all right, sir, I'm going to mug hard for that after Easter, really."
"Why put it off till then? You may come to my room any evening you like. I shall generally have time enough."
This invitation did not fascinate the boy as it deserved to do.
"I fancy I'd work steadier here," said he. "Besides, Dig and I use the same books."
"Well, the first thing is to get yourself all right. What's troubling you, Arthur?"
This was a startling question, and Arthur felt himself detected.