Captain Gales leaned back, blankly studying the bulk-head before him.  Disturbing thoughts were now running in the Old Man’s mind.

“Cantor was in this room,” mused Captain Gales, “and it was some time afterwards that I missed the envelope.  Then, too, Cantor fairly begged for more shore leave, and told me that it was vital to him to be allowed further shore leave.  Still, again, in the ward-room it was Cantor who suggested that the officers’ quarters be searched.  Can it be that Cantor is the scoundrel?  I hate to believe it.  But then I hate equally to believe that Darrin could have done such a treasonable thing as to steal a copy of our landing instructions, prepared by the admiral and sent aboard through the consular office, so that the Mexicans ashore would not observe a great deal of communication between our ships.”

After some moments of thought Captain Gales announced: 

“Darrin, this thing is one of the most complex puzzles I have ever been called upon to solve.  Your conduct and answers have been straightforward, and I am unable to believe that you had any hand in the stealing or handling of that accursed envelope.”

“Thank you, sir!” Dave Darrin cried, in genuine gratitude.

“At dinner in the ward-room to-night I shall have Commander Bainbridge make announcement before all your brother officers of what I have just said,” continued Captain Gales.  “You may go now.”

Yet, as he spoke, the captain rose and held out his hand.  Dave grasped it, then saluted and turned away.

His bearing, as he went to Dalzell’s quarters, was as proud as ever, though in his mind Dave Darrin knew well enough that he was still under a cloud of suspicion that would never be removed entirely from his good name unless the real culprit should be found and exposed.

“Moreover,” Dave told himself, bitterly, “Cantor, if he is the one who has done this contemptible thing, may yet devise a way clever enough to convict me, or at least to condemn me in the service.”

At dinner, before the first course was served, Commander Bainbridge ordered the ward-room doors closed after the attendants had passed outside.  Then he stated that Captain Gales wished it understood that the finding of the telltale envelope under Ensign Darrin’s mattress was the only circumstance against that officer, and that, in the captain’s opinion, it was wholly likely that some one else had placed the envelope there with the intention of arousing suspicion against the officer named.  It was further stated that, in time, Captain Gales hopes to reach all the facts in the mystery.  The Captain wished it understood, stated the executive officer, that it would have been so stupid on Ensign Darrin’s part to have hidden the envelope where it was found that there was no good reason for believing that Ensign Darrin was guilty of anything worse than having an enemy.

While this statement was being made Dave sat with his gaze riveted to the face of Lieutenant Cantor.  The officer looked stolid, but his stolidity had the appearance of being assumed.