It was agreed that no study-boy should be told of the intention, lest any of them should interfere.
Many hearts beat fast at tea that night as they observed that numbers of boys, instead of eating all their bread, were cutting off the crusts, and breaking them into good-sized bits.
Tea finished, Mr.Rose said grace, and then sat down quietly reading in his desk.

The signal agreed on was the (accidental) dropping of a plate by Brigson.

The study-boys left the room.
Crash!--down fell a plate on the floor, breaking to pieces in the fall.
Instantly the four candles went out, and there was a hurried movement towards the door, and a murmur of voices.
"Now then," said Brigson, in a loud whisper, "what a funky set you are! Here goes ?" The master, surprised at the sudden gloom and confusion, had just looked up, unable to conjecture what was the matter.

Brigson's crust caught him a sharp rap on the forehead as he moved.
In an instant he started up, and ten or twelve more crusts flew by or hit him on the head, as he strode out of the desk towards the door.
Directly he stirred, there was a rush of boys into the passage, and if he had once lost his judgment or temper, worse harm might have followed.
But he did not.

Going to the door, he said, "Preparation will be in five minutes; every boy not then in his place will be punished." During that five minutes the servants had cleared away the tea, full of wonder; but Mr.Rose paced up and down the room, taking no notice of any one.