“Well, Mr. Perry, I will hear you.”
The commandant had taken a fancy to the quiet, reserved but brilliant youth who had become Mark Merrill’s roommate, and he now saw that he had something more than a favor to ask.
“I wish to make a statement, sir, and hope that you will take what I have to say as though uttered under oath.”
“So serious as that, is it, Mr. Perry?”
“Yes, sir; but as I said, it is not of myself that I will speak.”
“Who, then?”
“Of my roommate, sir.”
“Ah! Has Merrill gotten out with you, too?”
“On the contrary, I wish to say that Merrill is the noblest fellow I ever met. I have watched him closely, when he little dreamed I was paying the slightest attention to his acts, or the actions of others, and I wish to say, commandant, that the day he missed roll call on account of not finding his cap, some one had taken it to cause him a demerit. The ink stains on his uniform were put there by others, and the night that he was reported as absent without leave from his room I lay awake, unable to sleep, and he never got out of his cot; but, whoever it was, gave the name of Merrill instead of his own, and this I’ll take oath to, sir. In a number of other cases, commandant, Merrill has been accused and silently submitted, when I know he was innocent, and thus the demerits roll up against him. Against these demerits, sir, he stands perfect in lessons, thorough in drill, and no complaint against the performance of any duty he is put upon, which, I think, sir, if you will pardon the expression of my opinion, go to prove that where he has a chance to get perfect marks he gets them, while others get the demerits against him as one dangerous to have as a rival for honors.”
“Ah! I see your reasoning, Mr. Perry; but may I ask if Merrill knows of your coming to me?”