"We are to conclude, Duncan, that you put him up to this mischief," added Mr. Lowington.
"Yes, sir; I did," answered Duncan, candidly.
"Why did you virtually deny all knowledge of the letter when I appealed to the ship's company before the suspension of Captain Kendall," continued Mr. Lowington, sternly.
"I will explain. I met Linggold in Antwerp, and spent an hour with him at the Hôtel St. Antoine, where he was staying with his uncle. He wanted to know about the academy squadron, and I told him all about both vessels. As the trouble we had had in the Josephine was uppermost in the minds of all of us, I told him all about that."
"Did you, indeed?'? said Mr. Hamblin.
"I did, indeed. I am willing to acknowledge that I intended to join with the rest of the fellows in hazing Mr. Hamblin."
"Are you, indeed?" sneered the professor, so wrathy that it was impossible for him to keep his seat, and he began to stride up and down the cabin.
"I am, indeed. About a dozen of us were going to write letters to Mr. Hamblin from all the big bugs, including Louis Napoleon, the King of Holland, the King of Belgium, and all the Ministers of State whose names we could find out."
"Were you, indeed?" gasped the savant, passing before the witness.
"We were, indeed. I told Linggold what we were going to do, and he promised to help me, being a first-rate French and German scholar; but I told him we didn't want any help, and that he would get me into a scrape if he meddled with the matter. I meant to have the letters mailed in some place where none of us ever went. I told Linggold I wanted him to take the letters and mail them at Cologne, and other places he went to in his travels; and he promised to do so. I didn't think of such a thing as his writing any letter after what I said. I left him then, and haven't seen or heard from him since till now. He must have written the letter right off, and mailed it at once, for it came on board the Josephine that night."