.." began the headmaster.
Psmith bent forward encouragingly.
"... This is a most extraordinary affair. Have you no explanation to
offer? What induced you to do such a thing?"
Psmith sighed softly.
"The craze of notoriety, sir," he replied sadly. "The curse of the
present age."
"What!" replied the headmaster.
"It is remarkable," proceeded Psmith placidly, with the impersonal touch
of one lecturing on generalities, "how frequently, when a murder has
been committed, one finds men confessing that they have done it when it
is out of the question that they should have committed it. It is one of
the most interesting problems with which anthropologists are confronted.
Human nature--"
The headmaster interrupted.
"Smith," he said, "I should like to see you alone for a moment. Mr.
Downing, might I trouble...? Adair, Jackson."
He made a motion toward the door.
When he and Psmith were alone, there was silence. Psmith leaned back
comfortably in his chair. The headmaster tapped nervously with his foot
on the floor.
"Er ... Smith."
"Sir?"
The headmaster seemed to have some difficulty in proceeding. He paused
again. Then he went on.
"Er .
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