They knew that Breslin had certainly allowed the belief that Mark Merrill was the thief, and he had offered no explanation then and there of his conduct.
They received his lame explanation as that of a man who was drowning “catching at a straw.”
They knew that Mark Merrill had reported himself as having struck a fellow cadet a blow, and that he had doubtless given his reason for so doing, which they adjudged a good one.
What the commandant would think remained to be seen.
The commandant’s orderly had been “seen in the land,” as they, the cadets, expressed it, and, as a result, certain uniformed gentlemen from the different classes were seen wending their way toward headquarters.
Byrd Bascomb gave his version of the affair in the presence of several officers of the academy, but with no cadet present other than himself.
The commandant’s secretary jotted down his testimony.
Then followed Herbert Nazro’s statement, Dillingham’s, and so on until all had been heard, and no comment was made in the presence of the cadets, but the officers were left to discuss the case among themselves.
In the meanwhile the door of Breslin’s room was closed against all admission, except the well-known knock of Scott Clemmons.
That youth returned from making known his roommate’s “explanation” to find him seated at his study table, writing.