CHAPTER XXV 

MARCHING ORDERS 

A silence followed. To Mike, lying in bed, holding his breath, it seemed a long silence. As a matter of fact it lasted for perhaps ten seconds. Then Mr. Wain spoke. 

"You have been out, James?" 

It is curious how in the more dramatic moments of life the inane remark is the first that comes to us. 

"Yes, sir," said Wyatt. 

"I am astonished. Exceedingly astonished." 

"I got a bit of a start myself," said Wyatt. 

"I shall talk to you in my study. Follow me there." 

"Yes, sir." 

He left the room, and Wyatt suddenly began to chuckle. 

"I say, Wyatt!" said Mike, completely thrown off his balance by the events of the night. 

Wyatt continued to giggle helplessly. He flung himself down on his bed, rolling with laughter. Mike began to get alarmed. 

"It's all right," said Wyatt at last, speaking with difficulty. "But, I say, how long had he been sitting there?" 

"It seemed hours. About an hour, I suppose, really." 

"It's the funniest thing I've ever struck. Me sweating to get in quietly, and all the time him camping out on my bed!" 

"But look here, what'll happen?" 

Wyatt sat up. 

"That reminds me. Suppose I'd better go down." 

"What'll he do, do you think?" 

"Ah, now, what!" 

"But, I say, it's awful. What'll happen?" 

"That's for him to decide. Speaking at a venture, I should say----" 

"You don't think----?" 

"The boot. The swift and sudden boot. I shall be sorry to part with you, but I'm afraid it's a case of 'Au revoir, my little Hyacinth.' We shall meet at Philippi. This is my Moscow. To-morrow I shall go out into the night with one long, choking sob. Years hence a white-haired bank-clerk will tap at your door when you're a prosperous professional cricketer with your photograph in _Wisden_. That'll be me. Well, I suppose I'd better go down. We'd better all get to bed _some_ time to-night. Don't go to sleep." 
Where was Mike lying? What was he doing? What did this seem like? A long or short one? How long did it go on? Who said something after it? Was he surprised by something? By what? Where did he want to talk to Wyatt? What did Wyatt do after he left the room? Did he do this for a while? Where did he plop down? How long did Mike say the man had been sitting there? Where were the guys to meet? What did one of the boys say they would go out in the night with? What kind? Who will knock at the door? What kind? What did one of the guys tell the other not to do? How was Wyatt trying to get in?
In bed Holding his breath Silence Long Perhaps ten seconds. Mr. Wain Yes That Wyatt said he'd been out In his study Began to chuckle Yes On his bed About an hour Philippi A sob Long, choking Bank-clerk A white-haired one Go to sleep. Quietly