Page:Hornung - Fathers of Men.djvu/346

 "I know that. Here's your watch and your I.O.U. I found them after chapel this morning."

Jan took his treasure eagerly, laid it on the dressing-table, and produced his packet of coins from one of the small side drawers.

"And here's your money," said he. "You'd better count it; you won't find a sixpence missing."

Chips stared at him with round eyes.

"But what on earth did you borrow it for?"

"That's my business," said Jan, in the same tone as before, though Chips had changed his.

"I don't know how you knew I had all this money. It isn't usual late in the term like this, when all the subs. have been banked long ago."

Jan showed no disposition to explain the deed.

"This is my business, you know," persisted Chips.

"Oh! is it? Then I don't mind telling you I heard you filling your precious coffers after dinner."

It was Chips's own term for the money-box in which as captain of the house he placed the various house subscriptions as he received them. He looked distressed.

"I was afraid you must have heard me."

"Then why did you ask?"

"I hoped you hadn't."

"What difference does it make?"

"You heard me with the money, and yet you couldn't come in and ask me to lend it to you."

"I should like to have seen you do it!"

"The money was for something special, Jan."

"I thought it was."

"Half the house had just been giving me their allowances, but some had got more from home expressly."

"Yet you pretend you'd have let me touch it!"