Captain Murray finished reading the paper and looked up wearily and anxiously at Hal.
“I have been expecting this,” he said. “I am not greatly surprised. But—it comes too late.”
“Why too late, Captain?”
“Because charges have already been filed against you, and a court martial demanded. I suppose you would not want to retire under fire even though you should be permitted to do so.”
“I don’t know. It would depend on the nature of the charges. May I see a copy of the complaint?”
“Certainly!”
Captain Murray turned to his desk, drew a long envelope from a pigeonhole, removed a formal-looking document therefrom, and handed the document to Lieutenant McCormack to read.