Sebastian had never seen a woman carrying a suitcase before, but she was halfway up the stairs before he could do anything about it.
‘My name’s Mrs Tibbet,’ she said, ‘but my regulars call me Tibby.’ When she reached the first-floor landing, she added, ‘I’ll be putting you in number seven. It’s at the back of the house, so you’re less likely to be woken by the morning traffic.’
Sebastian had no idea what she was talking about, as he’d never been woken by traffic in his life.
Mrs Tibbet unlocked the door to room seven and stood aside to allow her guest to enter. The room was smaller than his study at Beechcroft, but, like its owner, it was neat and tidy. There was a single bed, with clean sheets, and a washbasin in the corner.
‘You’ll find the bathroom at the end of the corridor,’ Mrs Tibbet said before he could ask.
‘I’ve changed my mind, Mrs Tibbet,’ he said, ‘I’ll take it for a week.’
She took a key out of her housecoat but before she handed it over she said, ‘Then that will be one pound, in advance.’
‘Yes, of course,’ said Sebastian. He reached into his trouser pocket, only to find it was empty. He tried another pocket, and then another, but there was no sign of his money. He finally fell to his knees, opened his suitcase, and began frantically searching among his clothes.
Mrs Tibbet placed her hands on her hips, her smile no longer on display. Sebastian rummaged in vain among his clothes until he finally gave up, collapsed on to the bed and prayed that Tibby would be more sympathetic than the headmaster.
The headmaster checked into his room at the Reform Club and had a quick bath before changing into his dinner jacket. He checked his bow tie in the mirror above the washbasin, then returned downstairs to join his host.
Nick Judd, the chairman of the Old Boys, was waiting at the bottom of the stairs, and led his guest of honour into the reception room, where they joined other members of the committee at the bar.
‘What will you have to drink, headmaster?’ asked the chairman.
‘Just a dry sherry, please.’
Judd’s next words disconcerted him. ‘Allow me to be the first to congratulate you,’ he said after he’d ordered the drinks, ‘on the school being awarded the top scholarship to Peterhouse. A worthy accolade to crown your final year.’
The headmaster said nothing, but realized that the three lines he had crossed out of his speech would have to be reinstated. The news of Clifton’s expulsion needn’t come out until later. After all, the boy had won the scholarship, and that wouldn’t change until he had spoken to the admissions tutor at Cambridge in the morning.
Unfortunately, the chairman wasn’t the only person to refer to Clifton’s achievement, and by the time the headmaster rose to deliver his annual report, he saw no reason to let the assembled gathering know what he had planned to do the following day. He was surprised that the announcement of the top scholarship received such prolonged applause.
The speech was well received, and when Dr Banks-Williams sat down, so many Old Boys came up to the top table to wish him a happy retirement that he nearly missed the last train back to Beechcroft. No sooner had he settled down in his first-class compartment than his thoughts returned to Sebastian Clifton. He began to write down a few words for his address to morning assembly: ‘standards’, ‘decency’, ‘honour’, ‘discipline’ and ‘respect’ came to mind, and by the time the train pulled into Beechcroft, he had completed the first draft.
When he handed in his ticket, he was relieved to see his wife sitting in the car waiting for him, despite the late hour.
‘How did you get on?’ she asked, even before he’d pulled the car door closed.
‘I think I can say my speech was well received, given the circumstances.’
‘The circumstances?’
By the time they had reached the headmaster’s house, he had told his wife all about the unfortunate encounter with Clifton that had taken place on the train to London.
‘And what do you intend to do about it?’ she asked as he unlocked the front door.
‘He’s left me with no choice. I shall announce at morning assembly that Clifton has been expelled, and therefore sadly will not be taking up his place at Cambridge in September.’
‘Isn’t that a little draconian?’ suggested Mrs Banks-Williams. ‘After all, he may well have had a good reason