SOME unlucky lads in the University bearing a spite to

SOME unlucky lads in the University bearing a spite to the dean for his severity towards them, went secretly one night and daubed the rails of his staircase with tar. The dean coming down in the dark, dirtied his hands and coat very much with the tar; and, being greatly enraged, he sent for one most suspected to be the author. This the lad utterly denied; but said, "Truly, I did it not; but if you please, I can tell you who had _a hand in it_." Here they thought to have found out the truth, and asked him who. The lad answered, "_Your worship, sir_"; which caused him to be dismissed with great applause for his ingenuity.