I knew then that the whole thing was going to be useless. It had been a mistake to come to Pinshow. I could not reveal to him the evidence on which my fears were based. I said nothing, hoping he would not press me.
‘I see,’ he said.
‘Perhaps I am making a mountain out of a molehill, sir.’
Mr Pinshow, however, did not think so at all. ‘This is a serious business,’ he said. ‘Though it is unusual in these matters, I am glad you came to me.’
Clearly, I had given the man a completely false impression. I attempted to rectify this, but Mr Pinshow waved me to silence.
‘Say no more, my friend. Leave the matter with me. You can rely on me to speak with discretion in the right directions.’
‘Sir, I hope I have not misled you.’
‘No, no, no.’
‘It is not a
Mr Pinshow held up his hand. He smiled. ‘You are a good fellow. Do not despair. All will be well.’
God knows, I thought, what damage I have done.
‘Mind your own bloody business,’ Williams muttered to me. ‘Any more of this kind of stuff to Pinshow and I’ll have you for slander. Don’t you know that man’s a menace?’
‘Go to hell, Williams.’ And Williams, seeming a fit candidate for such a destination, shuffled angrily away.
After that, I decided to forget about Markham and Williams. After all, it had nothing to do with me; and in any case I appeared to have no option. I settled down to concentrating a little harder on my work and then, when I really had forgotten all about this strange alliance, I was summoned from class one day by the headmaster.
He stood by the window of his study, a terrible, sickly figure of immense height. He remained with his back to me when I entered the room and spoke to me throughout the interview from this position. ‘You will tell me what you know about Markham and the boy Williams,’ he said. ‘Do not lie, boy. I know a lie. I feel a lie on its utterance. Likewise, do not exaggerate. You will repeat to me simply and honestly all that is apposite. Unburden yourself, boy, that you may leave the room with your duty well done.’
I did not intend to lie. To conceal three-quarters of the story was not to lie. I said: ‘The whole truth, sir, is that…’ I paused not knowing how to go on. The headmaster said:
‘Well, boy, let us have haste with the whole truth.’
‘I can tell you nothing, sir.’
‘Nothing?’
‘Yes, sir. I know nothing of Markham and Williams.’
‘They are boys in this school. You know that, I presume? You have associated with them. You have spoken to Mr Pinshow of these boys. If their relationship is an illicit one I wish to know it. You will achieve little by reticence.’
‘There is nothing illicit, sir, in their friendship. I spoke to Mr Pinshow merely because I felt Williams to be the wrong sort of friend for Markham at this particular time.’
‘That is a presumptuous decision for you to make, boy.’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Why, then, did you so perversely make it?’
‘I like Markham, sir.’
‘Why, then, did you not see to it that his days were made easier by persuading him personally against an ill influence?’
‘Markham no longer wished for my companionship, sir.’
‘You had harmed him in some manner?’
‘No, sir. At least not that I know of.’
‘Yes or no, boy? Do not leave yourself a cowardly loophole.’
‘No, sir. I had not harmed him.’
‘Well then, why did he not wish to converse with you?’
‘I’m afraid I don’t know.’
‘You do not know. It is unnecessary to be afraid as well.’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘You see, boy, that you have placed me in an intolerable position with your wild irresponsibilities? I am the fount of authority in this school. You have made me uneasy in my mind. You have forced me to pursue a course I see no good reason for pursuing. Yet because there may be one tittle of reality in your guarded suspicions I must act as I do not wish to act. Have you ever placed yourself in a headmaster’s shoes?’
‘No, sir.’
‘No, sir. I had sensed as much. They are shoes that pinch, boy. It is well to remember that.’
‘Yes, sir.’
