“You have unassailable courage, too, Mr. Prescott.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Is that all?”

“You have finished your official business?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good night,” Mr. Prescott.

“Good night, sir.”

Saluting, Dick turned from the office.  As he pushed open the door and reentered the subdivision, he beheld Durville, standing there with arms folded.

“Possibly at the risk of being reported for breaking my arrest, Mr. Prescott,” began Durville, “I have lingered here to say to you that you have succeeded in wreaking a most complete revenge upon one who led a bit in having the silence conferred upon you.”

All Dick’s reserve melted for an instant.

“Durville, man—–­you—–­don’t believe I did this for—–­for revenge?” Prescott demanded.

Cadet Durville smiled sarcastically.

“I shall undoubtedly be broken for this night’s affair, Mr. Prescott, and you and the rest will continue to believe that I was absent merely on some vulgar escapade!  I go, now, to my arrest, which is doubtless the last military service I shall be called upon to render.  Mr. Prescott, I congratulate you, sir, upon your ability to spy upon other men and to serve your highest ideas of suitable vengeance.”

Gloomily Durville turned to his room.  Dick almost stumbled to his own quarters.

Greg Holmes’s face blanched when he heard the news.

“There’ll be fine class ructions by to-morrow!” he told himself with unwonted grimness.

CHAPTER IX

THE CLASS TAKES FINAL ACTION

By the time the corps of cadets was seated at breakfast, in the great mess hall, the following morning, the news began to circulate rapidly.

It was discussed in low tones at every table save that at which the silence against Prescott prevailed.

The silence by this time had ceased to be literal, except so far as it applied to Dick.  Other cadets at his table talked among themselves, though never to Prescott.  Greg, being Dick’s roommate, was the sole cadet exempted from this rule.

But the men at Prescott’s table restrained their curiosity until the two battalions had marched back to barracks and had been dismissed.

After the dismissal of the companies Dick and Greg strolled along slowly.  Wherever they passed backs were turned to them, though this would not have happened to Holmes had he been alone.

Though the news was discussed, no class action was taken.  This must not be done until Durville’s fate had overtaken him.  Otherwise, the Military Academy authorities might take such action as defiant and visit a more severe penalty upon Cadet Durville.

For five days Durville remained in close arrest.  This meant, to the initiated, that the Superintendent had taken up the matter with the War Department at Washington.