Both cadets saluted when they entered after knocking.
Lieutenant Denton glanced in sheer dismay at the "cit." clothes worn by Durville.
"Sir," began d.i.c.k huskily, "I regret being obliged to report that I just discovered Mr. Durville entering the sub-division in citizen"s dress."
"Have you any explanation to offer, Mr. Durville?" asked Lieutenant Denton in his official tone.
"None, sir."
"Very good, Mr. Durville. You will go to your room and remain in close arrest until you receive further official communication in this matter."
"Very good, sir."
Durville spoke in steady, if icy tones, as he saluted and made this response.
"That is all, Mr. Durville."
"Very good, sir."
Like one frozen, the cadet in unfamiliar attire turned and left the office.
"How did you happen to make the discovery, Mr. Prescott?" gasped the O.C.
"I discovered, sir, that I had overlooked this report, which I now turn in, sir," d.i.c.k replied rather hoa.r.s.ely. "It was just as I was about to leave the sub-division that Mr. Durville came in. I had no alternative but to report him, sir."
"You are right, Mr. Prescott. As a cadet officer you had no alternative."
Then, with a memory of his own West Point days, Lieutenant Denton unbent enough to remark feelingly:
"You have una.s.sailable 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, d.i.c.k 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 d.i.c.k"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. d.i.c.k almost stumbled to his own quarters.
Greg Holmes"s face blanched when he heard the news.
"There"ll be fine cla.s.s ructions by to-morrow!" he told himself with unwonted grimness.
CHAPTER IX
THE CLa.s.s 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 d.i.c.k. Other cadets at his table talked among themselves, though never to Prescott. Greg, being d.i.c.k"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 d.i.c.k and Greg strolled along slowly. Wherever they pa.s.sed backs were turned to them, though this would not have happened to Holmes had he been alone.
Though the news was discussed, no cla.s.s 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.
On the sixth day Durville was once more sent for by the commandant of cadets. His sentence was handed out to him. On account of an academic reputation of high grade, and a hitherto good-conduct report, Mr. Durville was not dropped from the corps. Had the offender, before leaving West Point in "cits.," gone to the cadet guard house and made any false report concerning his absence, nothing could have saved him from dismissal for making a false official report. All things being taken into consideration, Cadet Durville was "let off" with loss of privileges up to the time of semi-annual examinations, with, in addition, the walking of punishment tours every Sat.u.r.day afternoon during the same period.
Now the gathering wrath broke loose upon d.i.c.k. A cla.s.s meeting was called, that neither Prescott nor Holmes could attend with propriety.
Durville, as a matter of policy, did not attend, but there were not wanting first cla.s.smen who looked upon Durville as a sacrifice, and who were fully capable of presenting his side of the case at the meeting.
Upon Anstey, as on a former occasion, fell the task of making Prescott"s side clear.
The cla.s.s meeting had not been in session many minutes when d.i.c.k"s accusers had made it rather plain that Mr. Prescott, following his previous course with Jordan, had revenged himself also on Durville, who had taken an active part in securing the imposition of the silence.
Anstey took the floor in a fiery defence. He brought forth the statement that Prescott had not made any attempt to pry into the goings or comings of the unlucky Durville. The Virginian declared that Prescott had happened to be abroad in time to "catch" Mr.
Durville, simply because Prescott had started for the office of the officer in charge with an official paper that he had been tardy about turning in.
Though Anstey dwelt upon this side of the case with consummate oratory, the defence was regarded as "too transparent." Anstey"s good faith was not questioned, but Prescott"s was.