heard from his lips that
night. As for Raffles, he concluded his far too genial remarks by
predicting that, whatever Nasmyth might say or think of the new
fund, he would subscribe to it as handsomely as any of us, like
"the generous good chap" that we all. knew him to be.
Even so did Raffles disappoint the Old Boys in the evening as he
had disappointed the school by day. We had looked to him for a
noble raillery, a lofty and loyal disdain, and he had fobbed us
off with friendly personalities not even in impeccable taste.
Nevertheless, this light treatment of a grave offence went far to
restore the natural amenities of the occasion. It was impossible
even for Nasmyth to reply to it as he might to a more earnest
onslaught. He could but smile sardonically, and audibly undertake
to prove Raffles a false prophet; and though subsequent speakers
were less merciful the note was struck, and there was no more bad
blood in the debate. There was plenty, however, in the veins of
Nasmyth, as I was to discover for myself before the night was out.
You might think that in the circumstances he would not have attended
the head master's ball with which the evening ended; but that would
be sadly to misjudge so perverse a creature as the notorious Nipper.
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