It was the chair who first recovered his poise.
"Clairy insane!" cried the class president.

"Gentlemen, now we comprehend what, before, it was impossible to understand." In the face of this sudden blow to a classmate all the midshipmen sat for a few minutes more as if stunned.

Then they began to glance about at each other.
"I think this event must convince us, sir," Darrin's voice broke in, "that we young men don't know everything, and that we should learn to wait for facts before we judge swiftly." "Mr.President!" It was Gosman, on his feet.

In a husky voice that midshipman begged the consent of his seconders for his withdrawing the motion he had offered sending Midshipman Clairy to Coventry.

In a twinkling that motion had been withdrawn.
"Will Mr.Darrin, state, if able, how serious Clairy's insanity is believed to be ?" inquired the chair.
"It is serious enough to ruin all his chances in the Navy," Dave answered, "though the surgeons believe that, after Clairy has been taken by his friends to some asylum, his cure can eventually be brought about." The feeling in the room was too heavy for more discussion.