They were therefore ordered back to their quarters, with permission only to attend chapel that forenoon.
Just after chapel, however, the fourth midshipman discovered himself to the officer in charge.

He was Midshipman Totten, of fourth class.
Totten admitted that it was he who had waited outside of the house in question, and who had knocked down the civilian.

He further gave the name of that civilian, who was the son of one of the prominent officials of the state government.
"Why did you strike him, Mr.Totten ?" demanded the officer in charge.
"Because, sir, the fellow had grossly insulted a young lady whom I felt bound to avenge." "Who is the young lady ?" "Am I obliged, sir, to give her name in the matter ?" "It will be better, Mr.Totten.You may be sure that your statement will be treated with all the consideration and confidence possible." Totten thereupon explained that the young woman in question was his cousin.

Totten, who was an orphan, had been brought up by an aunt who had but one child of her own, the young woman in question.

When Totten had won an appointment to the Naval Academy, the aunt and cousin had decided to move to Annapolis sooner than have their little family broken up.
"How did you come to be outside the Academy grounds last evening, Mr.
Totten?
You were not on leave to go outside." "I took the chances and Frenched it, sir," confessed Totten candidly.