"Then I desire to say, sir, that I have not the least desire to see Captain Cartwright in any trouble. Hence, it would have been impossible for me to think of writing such a note. More, sir, it would have been stupid of me to risk writing such a note, for Captain Holmes and I sat in my quarters until it was time for us to leave on our way to our respective company offices."
"And while in your quarters did you discuss this affair of your trouble with Captain Cartwright?"
"To the best of my recollection, sir, we did not mention it," Dick declared.
"Is that your recollection, Captain Holmes?"
"Yes, sir."
"And this is not your handwriting, Captain Prescott?"
"I give you my word of honor, sir, that I did not write it, and did not even discuss the matter with Captain Holmes."
"I do not understand this note in the least," Colonel Cleaves went on. "Of course, Captain Prescott, I am bound to accept your assurance that you did not write this. I do not know how the note came here; all I know about it is that I found it on my desk, under a paper weight, about fifteen minutes ago, when I came in."
"It is the work of some trouble-maker, sir," Greg ventured.
"Do you know anything about this note, Captain Cartwright?"