Walter Middleton arose in his place.
"I am the author of the thesis last read; but I am not entitled to the prize; there has been a mistake."
"Walter!" exclaimed his father, in a tone of rebuke.
The examiners looked at the young speaker in surprise, and at each other in perplexity.
"Excuse me, father; excuse me, gentlemen; but there has been a serious mistake, which I hope to prove to you, and which I know you would not wish me to profit by," persisted the youth modestly, but firmly.
"Don't, now, Walter! hush, sit down," whispered Ishmael in distress.
"I will," replied young Middleton firmly.
"Walter, come forward and explain yourself; you certainly owe these gentlemen both an explanation and an apology for your unseemly interruption of their proceedings and your presumptuous questioning of their judgment," said Mr. Middleton.
"Father, I am willing and anxious to explain, and my explanation in itself will be my very best apology; but, before I can go on, I wish to beg the favor of a sight of the thesis that was first read," said Walter, coming up to the table of the examiners.
The paper was put in his hands. He cast his eyes over it and smiled.