"Thank you, sir," answered Dave as innocently as though he did not understand that he had just been rebuked. The O.C. frowned.
"Mr. Darrin, since I assume you to have been the ringleader of your trio, did you give that wonderful advice to your companions just so that you might be able to refuse any aid to the Naval Academy authorities in running this matter to the ground?"
"Yes, sir," Dave answered very frankly.
"You wished, then," demanded the O.C. sternly, "to hinder the course of justice at the Naval Academy?"
"It, at least, sir, did not strike me at the time quite in that light."
"Yet something was happening on the streets of Annapolis that you knew would be very thoroughly investigated if it were reported here, and so you took precautions against being able to aid the authorities in the investigation?"
"I admit the truth of that, sir."
"Mr. Darrin, why did you feel called upon to try to defeat the investigation that you foresaw, and which is now under way?"
"Because, sir, it is contrary to the spirit of the brigade of midshipmen to carry tales against each other. I did not care to act contrary to that spirit."
"Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that you did not dare," observed the O.C. half sneeringly.