"Summon the officers—-all of them—-to meet me in the ward-room in five minutes!" rasped Captain Gales.
And there every officer of the "Long Island" reported immediately.
After the doors had been closed Captain Gales announced the loss.
Blank faces confronted him on all sides.
"Has any officer any information to offer that can throw the least light on thus matter?" demanded the Old Man, in a husky voice.
There was silence, broken at last by Lieutenant Cantor asking:
"May I make a suggestion, sir?"
"Certainly."
"How many officers, sir, visited your office after the time you are certain of having seen the missing envelope on your desk?"
"Five," replied Captain Gales. "Lieutenant-Commander Denton, Lieutenant-Commander Hansen, Lieutenant Holton, Lieutenant Trent and yourself."
"Were there any enlisted men in your office, sir?"
"None since before the letter came aboard," replied Captain Gales.