Mr. Bridges could stand it no longer; the handkerchief failed as a preventive, and he had to indulge in a fit of audible laughter, in which the other members of the committee politely joined.
"This was a solemn and important matter to the students alluded to," continued Shoreham, with the utmost seriousness, for he could not tell, for the life of him, what the fat civil engineer was laughing at. "It involved their rights and privileges. While they were thus excluded, by authority which they were too loyal to disregard"—
"And Bates was too vigilant to permit them to disregard," the principal, now as much amused as his guests, interjected.
"Without introducing any unnecessary details, I need only say that the eight students, whose deportment was usually unobjectionable, and who habitually discharged with fidelity their obligations to the institution and its respected founder, were excluded, by authority, from the particular assemblage of the pupils in which the prizes were offered for the plan and location. The other students were forbidden to speak with any persons in regard to the plans, and the eight were unable to obtain the terms of the offer, and were thus circumstantially shut out from the competition. For myself and the other students who were thus unjustly excluded, I wish to protest against the award about to be made, and to suggest that the offer be repeated, so that the eight may have the opportunity to stand on the same footing as their fellow-students."
"As I am charged with injustice and unfairness, I should like to have the committee settle this question," said Captain Gildrock, who appeared to be in an unusual mood for him, for he was laughing as merrily as the stout civil engineer. "I will agree to abide by your decision, gentlemen."
"For myself and my associates whom I represent, I assent to this magnanimous proposition," replied Shoreham.
From motives of delicacy the committee objected to deciding the matter, but, at the request of the captain, they finally consented, regarding the whole business as a farce rather than a matter of serious importance. The students were rather impatient, for they wanted to know to whom the prizes had been awarded, and most of the rebels were satisfied that they had been in the wrong.
Shoreham had already stated the question, and the chairman, declaring that they understood it perfectly, declined to allow Shoreham to make another speech.
"You were shut up in your room, and could not find out the terms of the offer; that's the whole thing in a nutshell, isn't it?" said Mr. Bridges, turning to the orator of the rebels.