Francis there was always the feeling that they were playing down to him. Joe Bevan’s gentle taps, in particular, were a little humiliating. But with his late opponent all had been serious. It had been a real test, and he had come through it very fairly. On the whole, he had taken more than he had given—his eye would look curious tomorrow— but already he had thought out a way of foiling the burly youth’s rushes. Next time he would really show his true form.
The morrow, on which Sheen expected his eye to look curious, was the day he had promised to play fives with Mr Spence. He hoped that at the early hour at which they had arranged to play it would not have reached its worst stage; but when he looked in the glass at a quarter to seven, he beheld a small ridge of purple beneath it. It was not large, nor did it interfere with his sight, but it was very visible. Mr Spence, however, was a sportsman, and had boxed himself in his time, so there was a chance that nothing would be said.
It was a raw, drizzly morning. There would probably be few fives-players before breakfast, and the capture of the second court should be easy. So it turned out. Nobody was about when Sheen arrived. He pinned his slip of paper to the door, and, after waiting for a short while for Mr Spence and finding the process chilly, went for a trot round the gymnasium to pass the time.
Mr Spence had not arrived during his absence, but somebody else had. At the door of the second court, gleaming in first-fifteen blazer, sweater, stockings, and honour-cap, stood Attell.
Sheen looked at Attell, and Attell looked through Sheen.
It was curious, thought Sheen, that Attell should be standing in the very doorway of court two. It seemed to suggest that he claimed some sort of ownership. On the other hand, there was his, Sheen’s, paper on the….His eye happened to light on the cement flooring in front of the court. There was a crumpled ball of paper there.
When he had started for his run, there had been no such ball of paper.
Sheen picked it up and straightened it out. On it was written “R. D. Sheen”.
He looked up quickly. In addition to the far-away look, Attell’s face now wore a faint smile, as if he had seen something rather funny on the horizon. But he spake no word.
A curiously calm and contented feeling came upon Sheen. Here was something definite at last. He could do nothing, however much he might resent it, when fellows passed him by as if he did not exist; but when it came to removing his landmark….
“Would you mind shifting a bit?” he said very politely. “I want to pin my paper on the door again. It seems to have fallen down.”
Attell’s gaze shifted slowly from the horizon and gradually embraced Sheen.
“I’ve got this court,” he said.
“I think not,” said Sheen silkily. “I was here at ten to seven, and there was no paper on the door then. So I put mine up. If you move a little, I’ll put it up again.”
“Go and find another court, if you want to play,” said Attell, “and if you’ve got anybody to play with,” he added with a sneer. “This is mine.”
“I think not,” said Sheen.
Attell resumed his inspection of the horizon.
“Attell,” said Sheen.
Attell did not answer.
Sheen pushed him gently out of the way, and tore down the paper from the door.
Their eyes met. Attell, after a moment’s pause, came forward, half-menacing, half irresolute; and as he came Sheen hit him under the chin in the manner recommended by Mr Bevan.
“When you upper-cut,” Mr Bevan was wont to say, “don’t make it a swing. Just a half-arm jolt’s all you want.”
It was certainly all Attell wanted. He was more than surprised. He was petrified. The sudden shock of the blow, coming as it did from so unexpected a quarter, deprived him of speech: which was, perhaps, fortunate for him, for what he would have said would hardly have commended itself to Mr Spence, who came up at this moment.
“Well, Sheen,” said Mr Spence, “here you are. I hope I haven’t kept you waiting. What a morning! You’ve got the court, I hope?”
“Yes, sir,” said Sheen.
He wondered if the master had seen the little episode which had taken place immediately before his arrival. Then he remembered that it had happened inside the court. It must have been over by the time Mr Spence had come upon the scene.
“Are you waiting for somebody, Attell?” asked Mr Spence. “Stanning? He will be here directly. I passed him on the way.”
Attell left the court, and they began their game.
“You’ve hurt your eye, Sheen,” said Mr Spence, at the end of the first game. “How did that happen?”
“Boxing, sir,” said Sheen.
“Oh,” replied Mr Spence, and to Sheen’s relief he did not pursue his inquiries.
Attell had wandered out across the gravel to meet Stanning.
“Got that court?” inquired Stanning.
“No.”
“You idiot, why on earth didn’t you? It’s the only court worth playing in. Who’s got it?”
“Sheen.”
