CHAPTER XVIII.
THE WHOLE CLASS TAKES A HAND "Then, Mr.Darrin, you admit the use of impertinent language to Mr.Clairy, when the midshipman was in charge of the floor ?" This question was put to Dave, the following morning, by the commandant of midshipmen.
"It would have been an impertinence, sir, under ordinary conditions," Darrin answered.

"Under the circumstances I believed, sir, that I had been provoked into righteous anger." "You still assert that Mr.Clairy's charge that your shoes were unlaced when you approached him was false ?" "Absolutely false, sir." "Do you wish any time to reflect over that answer, Mr.Darrin ?" "No, sir." "You are willing your answer should go on record, then ?" "My denial of the charge of having my shoes unlaced is the only answer that I can possibly make, sir." The commandant reflected.

Then he directed that Midshipman Clairy be ordered to report to him.

Clairy came, almost immediately.
The commandant questioned him closely.

Clairy still stuck resolutely to his story that Dave Darrin had been passing through the corridor with his shoes unlaced; and, furthermore, that Darrin, when rebuked and ordered to place himself on report, had used impertinent language.
During this examination the midshipmen did not glance toward each other.