At the close of the first volume of my memoirs, I found that there were many more tales to recount and decided to continue in my efforts to pen my nostalgic recollections.

It may be objected that my memory could not possibly be sufficient enough to write a truthful journal of what happened a considerable number of years ago. This would be perfectly true were I to attempt to proceed in portraying the events of my earlier years from day to day; but in regards to what I have already written, I am able to vouch for it's entire correctness. The doings and happenings of my first weeks at school being impressed upon my memory with remarkable clarity.

In respect to Gaston de Beaupre's tales, it will probably be thought, how can I retain such a precise remembrance of these as would be necessary if they are not to be regarded as figments of my own imagination? In answer to this charge I readily admit that no doubt the words and phrases have undergone some changes in the course of transcription by me, but I have endeavored to retain as far as my mind will serve me on looking back, the general style of the narration as he delivered them to us.

When I left off in my first volume, I had made mention of some unpleasant lads going by the names Davenport and Lawrence and often enough followed by Davenport Junior in giggling tow. These lads had taken it upon themselves to make the lives of some of the other boys in their dormitory quite unpleasant, and as I have recounted, I too was at times the object of their cruel play.

The next day being Saturday and a half holiday, Bob Rutherford (being the eldest and therefore the leader of my bedchamber quartet, which also included the young Duke Jimmy Marmot, and the aforementioned Gaston de Beaupre or “Blackie” as we fondly called him, as well as myself, Charlie Powerscourt) proposed as we were dressing that we should go as far as the sea, which was only a matter of about two miles and a half from the school. We all greeted the suggestion with warm approval, and I especially looked forward to it, as I had never had an opportunity of looking upon the ocean.