‘Look here, Warden,’ said Mrs Bradley. ‘It would be less embarrassing, both for you and me, if you were officially out of this. I have to make some accusations against Miss Cornflake, but as they do not come strictly under the heading of College discipline, perhaps — ’
‘Oh, dear,’ said the elderly Warden of Columba. ‘It seems a little irregular. Can’t I know —?’
‘Certainly, if you’ll agree to take no action. It’s nothing very serious in itself. She’s a keen gymnast, and makes entry into the gymnasium for practising, at times when the students are not expected to be in there. I’ve caught these wretches of mine’ — she met Laura’s eye squarely — ‘and I thought I’d find out whether Miss Cornflake has unauthorized possession of a key. It’s really a question of the discipline of my own Hall, rather than yours.’
‘Oh, in that case — ’ said the Warden of Columba. ‘Look here, have this room, and I’ll go and sit with Miss Topas.’
It was clear that the visitors were not at all welcome to Miss Cornflake. She knocked, came in, and, casting one swift glance about her, seemed inclined, to back out again, but Laura had placed herself, gangster-like, with her back to the door.
‘Ah, Miss Cornflake,’ said Mrs Bradley. ‘I wonder whether, by any chance, Miss Pettinsalt happened to leave the key of the gymnasium with you before she went out this afternoon?’
‘Yes, she did,’ replied Miss Cornflake, after a slight pause.
‘Then may I borrow it?’ Mrs Bradley inquired.
‘Yes, I suppose so. I’ll go and get it. It’s in my room.’
‘Thank you,’ said Mrs Bradley.
‘But she said she was there without permission,’ said Alice, under her breath. Mrs Bradley caught the whisper and smiled.
‘Do not mention that fact,’ she said. ‘Now, students, I am going to do some very curious things. Ready, Miss Cartwright?’
Before Miss Cartwright could reply, the Warden had slipped behind her and was holding her in a firm grip.
‘Do you mind struggling quite hard? I’ll try not to hurt you,’ went on Mrs Bradley. ‘Harder, Miss Cartwright. Try to get away.’
Miss Cartwright, inhibited at first by a mixture of chivalry and awe, was very soon fighting her hardest. Mrs Bradley released her, pushed the panting girl into an arm-chair in a dark corner, and waited for Miss Cornflake to return. She had to wait for two or three minutes, and once or twice glanced at her watch. When Miss Cornflake came back, key in hand, Mrs Bradley gripped her round the waist, imprisoning her arms. Then, holding her firmly, she said: ‘Now don’t be alarmed, Miss Cornflake. Repeat after me these words: “For heaven’s sake, Warden, don’t report me! It was only a rag. I shall be sent down for certain if you report me.” ’
The victim, standing perfectly still, said quietly: ‘I don’t understand all this. Have you all gone mad?’
Mrs Bradley began to haul her towards the window.
‘Open that window, Miss Menzies,’ she commanded. ‘I’m going to throw this student out’
At this Miss Cornflake began to struggle violently. Mrs Bradley exerted a good deal of strength to hold her. Then she let her go.
‘What
‘Psychology tests,’ said Mrs Bradley unblushingly. ‘I am sorry to have inconvenienced you. I shall award your reactions a mark of Beta.’ She grinned ferociously, took up the gymnasium key, which Miss Cornflake had dropped in the struggle, and which had been picked up by Alice, and led her myrmidons away.
‘And now, Miss Cartwright, not a word of this to a soul,’ she said, when they were out on the drive once more. ‘I suppose, by the way, you wouldn’t care to confess to me that you were the Miss Morris in trousers whom I captured on bonfire night, and the snake-charmer who so much annoyed Miss Harbottle? Never mind, child. But, remember, these tests of mine must be secret, or I can learn nothing from them at all.’
‘I shouldn’t dream of saying anything, Warden,’ said Miss Cartwright, giving a half-glance at Laura.
‘Very well, child. And I shouldn’t smoke quite so much, if I were you. You make odd, gasping sounds, which displease my medical ear, when you become short of breath, as you did just now when we struggled.’
‘She took long enough to get the key, Warden,’ said Laura, as she and Mrs Bradley, having sent the other two off, walked briskly towards the gymnasium.
‘The inference is that she took it off a key-ring.’
‘Not to lose it, I suppose; although you’d hardly think she’d bother, just for an hour in the gym. Anyway, why not lend you the whole caboosh?’
‘She may have keys on the ring which she didn’t want us to see, including a key to the doors of the passage that runs from Hall to Hall,’ said Mrs Bradley. ‘And, of course, this key may be one she had cut for herself when she
‘Shall you ask Miss Pettinsalt whether she lent it?’
‘Not at present, child. It isn’t necessary. Here we are. I don’t think I’ve been in here since I went all over the College when first I came.’
She opened the door, and they went in by a door which led into a short passage past the dressing-rooms and shower-baths.
‘Better put these on, Warden, not to spoil the floor,’ suggested Laura, handing Mrs Bradley a pair of rubber- soled shoes. ‘They’ll be pretty big for you, but I daresay you can slop about in them. I can go in in my stockings.’
Mrs Bradley changed her shoes, and Laura led the way to the space under the gallery where the movable apparatus was stored.
