“As a matter of vital fact, Mr. Farley,” interrupted the commandant of midshipmen, “did you at any time relax such vigilance, even for a few seconds?”

“Not even for a few seconds, sir.”

“After the inspection that Mr. Page and yourself made, who was the first person that you saw enter Mr. Darrin’s room?”

“Mr. Henkel!

“Was he Alone?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Did you then immediately send Mr Page to the officer in charge?”

“I did, sir.”

“And yourself?”

“Without allowing my glance to turn from Mr. Darrin’s door, sir, I stepped out into the corridor, walked close to Mr. Darrin’s room door, and then stood there until Lieutenant Nettleson and Mr. Hawkins arrived.”

“Then, Mr. Farley, you are certain that there was no disorder in Mr. Darrin’s room at the time when he and Mr. Dalzell left to recite in mathematics?

“I am absolutely positive, sir.”

“And you are also certain that none but Mr. Henkel entered that room up to the time when the disorder was discovered by Lieutenant Nettleson?”

“I am certain, sir.”

Midshipman Page was then questioned.  He bore out the testimony just given by Farley in every particular.

The manner of the commandant of midshipmen was still gentle when he turned again to Henkel.

“Mr. Henkel, do you wish to modify your previous statements in any way?”

“No, sir,” replied Henkel.  “In all my answers I have told the whole and exact truth, as I know it.  I am eager, sir, to answer any further questions that you may wish to put to me on the subject.”

“Gentlemen, you may all withdraw, save Lieutenant Nettleson and Mr. Henkel,” announced the commandant, after a few moments of seemingly mild thought.  “Mr. Hawkins, of course you understand that what you know of this matter you know officially, and that you are not to mention or discuss it until such time as official action shall have been taken.  As for you other midshipmen, I see no harm, gentlemen, in your discussing it among yourselves, but you will see to it that information does not, for the present, spread through the brigade.  You may go, gentlemen.”

Once outside Farley and Page walked so rapidly that Dave and Dan did not attempt to overtake them in the corridors.  But they found Farley and Page waiting outside Dave’s room door.

“May we come in?” asked Farley.

“If anyone on earth may,” replied Dave heartily, throwing open the door, then stepping back to allow the others to enter.

“I’m afraid we’ve cooked a goose for some one,” cried Farley, with grim satisfaction.

“Great Scott, yes,” breathed Dan Dalzell, in devout thankfulness.

“Is it fair, Farley, for me to ask you whether you suspected Henkel before you caught him?” queried Dave Darrin.

“Yes; and the commandant knows that.  Henkel came here one night, weeks ago, and mysteriously tried to interest us in putting up a job to get you dropped from the Navy rolls.  When Page and I really tumbled that an enemy working against you, it didn’t take us two minutes to guess who that enemy was.  Then we started on the warpath.”