all he could of the hop, and of the resolute conduct of Laura
and Belle in refusing absolutely to be downcast.

"Have you sent any word home?" asked Greg.

"To my father and mother? Not a word! Nor shall I, until this
nightmare is all over," breathed Dick fervently.

"Laura wanted to know," Holmes explained. "Of course Mrs. Bentley
had to send some word to her husband, to account for their longer
absence, but she cautioned Dr. Bentley not to let a word escape."

To himself, as he reached up to extinguish the light, Greg muttered:

"I believe that unhanged scoundrel, Dodge, will see to it that
word reaches Gridley!"

In this conjecture Holmes must have been correct, for, the next
forenoon, there came a telegram, full of agony, from Prescott's
mother, imploring further particulars at once. Mrs. Prescott's
dispatch mentioned a "rumor."

"That's Dodge's dirty work," growled Holmes. "So that fastens
the guilt of this whole thing upon him---the dirty dog!"

Yet how to fasten any guilt upon Dodge? Or how force from him
any admission that would aid to free Cadet Prescott from the awful
charge against him that had now been made official?

That Sunday, Greg, besides paying a long visit in the hotel parlor,