Bunter the Sportsman

When Vernon-Smith asked Lord Mauleverer to come out with him for a car ride, time to be announced later, that noble young lord said he would be pleased. He did not know that the trip was to begin at midnight! The Bounder held him to his promise, but Harry Wharton and Co., considering he had been "tricked", held him to his bed!

Bunter, who had heard of the trip by his own methods, thought that Vernon-Smith would much prefer the company of a "sportsman" like himself. So, while the Bounder was waiting in the darkness for Mauly to join him, the fat Owl went over and joined the Bounder! Not until they reached the lights of the waiting car in Friardale Lane did Vernon-Smith find out who his companion was. It was too late and too risky to send him back, so, making the best of a bad job, the Bounder took Bunter with him. But for the two Greyfriars boys the joy-ride came to a sudden and calamitous end with a long and weary trudge back to school.

Others were out that night, including a person known as "Gentleman Charlie" who had designs on a famous ruby in Hogben Grange. The two midnight parties met, with unforeseen consequences to both sides.

The situation became a complicated one that involved a number of missing articles, among them the famous ruby and several jackets belonging to Mauly. It was thanks to the Bounder that the mystery was cleared up and the missing ruby found, though Bunter, as usual, claimed the credit – in a last but vain attempt to prove himself a "sportsman".