“Would it do any good to ask for a class committee, and to bring Brimmer before it?”

“Not until you have a better case to offer,” replied Page.

“Then what should I do?”

“Cut Brimmer, of course,” said Farley thoughtfully.  “And don’t let him guess that you’re going to let up at any point of the investigation into the matter.”

“We won’t let up, either,” blazed Dave, “if we can think of any way to probe the facts.

“I don’t believe it will do much good to fool with Tony, the Greek,” suggested Midshipman Page.  “Brimmer has more money than any of us, and he’ll pay blackmail to keep Tony’s tongue quiet.”

It was Tuesday when Midshipman Brimmer returned to formations.  Immediately after breakfast Dave Darrin went up to him.

“Mr. Brimmer, I want a word with you.”

“I don’t want any words with you, at any time, Mr. Darrin,” Brimmer retorted bitterly.

“You won’t have any that are not necessary,” retorted Dave.  “Yet I think it will be to your advantage to step aside and hear what I have to say now.”

“Make it very short, then.”

“Mr. Brimmer,” continued Darrin, when they were by themselves, “all I have to say is to confirm the language that I used to you the other evening.  Further, I will say that you are quite at liberty to report me for having assaulted you.  Or, you may ask for a class committee to investigate this affair between us.  The last that I have to say is that I have the vial of knockout stuff that you gave Tony to serve to Dalzell and myself, and I have also expert testimony as to the nature of the stuff.  Nor do I mind admitting to you that Dalzell and I are going to go as far as we can in getting the evidence that; will warrant our making an official report your scoundrelly conduct.  If possible we shall bring about your dismissal from the Naval Academy.”

Brimmer’s eyes flashed.  Yet in the next minute the yellow streak in him showed.  His lip quivered, and he begged, brokenly: 

“Darrin, show a little mercy.  Would you care to be kicked out of the Academy?”

“Not any more than Dalzell would have liked it,” replied Dave dryly.

“Then you must realize that it would spoil my life, too.”

“Mr. Brimmer,” retorted Darrin sternly, “it is no longer a question of what your feelings in the matter may be.  The plain fact is that you are not a gentlemen—­not honorable.  You are not fit to be the comrade of gentlemen.  You are a profanation of the uniform of the United States.  It is for the good of the service, far more than for any personal enmity, that several of us have resolved to keep on the hunt for evidence until we get a complete enough lot to drive you away from Annapolis.”

Finding that coaxing was of no avail Brimmer became surly.

At the first opportunity for liberty to go into town Dave, Dan and Farley went abruptly to Tony, the Greek, questioning him insistently.  Tony, however, would not say a word beyond stolidly denying that he had had any part in the plot, and that he had ever said so.